Chapter Text
Chapter 60 - Land Of My Dreams
I tell you what!
Cassidy and them’d finally taught me the lyrics to that song we was strummin’ by the fire that night ‘fore our Mikoshi run.
See, it’s a travelin’ song, and that’s exactly what we’re fixin’ to do.
Ready to delta on outta Sunset Grove.
And I tell you what. That there song, it’s preem as could be. Really fits the mood ‘round camp.
If you’re coming, then walk by my side
If you’re staying back, then kiss me goodbye
I’m going into the thicket
And right through the thorns
To look for the land of my dreams
Well dang, y’all. It’s been a few weeks since Mikoshi.
Let’s see…last entry I’d told y’all ‘bout me and Panam, standin’ at the core of Mikoshi. Then, I’d plugged in and…
Oooooh. Heh. Y’all got my memory from inside there, too.
Reckon I’m the first person in history to ever walk outta Mikoshi alive. Walk is a matter of speakin’, I suppose. Guess “alive” is also a kinda relative term, seein’ as I had to die and all.
Again.
Awe hell, what I’m sayin’ is ain’t a soul on Earth that’s ever done what I’d done.
Ain’t a soul that could do it again, either.
‘Cause that night, we destroyed Mikoshi.
Arasaka, they’re still around, like a stubborn bull that keeps comin’ back to pasture after he’d been sold off.
But we sure as shit put a hurtin’ on the corp, that’s for dang sure.
Shit, y’all. S’been a while since I’d fallen behind on these here entries. Reckon I oughta catch y’all up to speed.
After meetin’ with Alt and sayin’ goodbye to Johnny, I’d come to, floatin’ in that pool-like chamber thing surroundin’ Mikoshi. Panam’d come to me, helped pull me outta there once I’d returned to my body and unplugged the cable.
Got out just in time, too.
Whole area was fixin’ to get destroyed, and we had to leave. Knew the best way outta Arasaka was to leave the same way we’d come, and hope that in the chaos and destruction, we’d get out without facin’ a mess of hostile forces.
Reckoned Arasaka was gonna send everythin’ they had left for us.
Reached in my pocket and found me a BounceBack with a stim. Comin’ back from the dead and all, I needed all the help I could get. I used the BounceBack and we kept movin’.
Me and Panam’d left the core. We came back to the area where we’d fought Smasher. Fuckin’ borg was still a hot, smolderin’ piece of scrap, reekin’ like flesh and chrome.
Then, by that partition Smasher’d blasted through, there was Saul’s body. My Tactician shotgun’d seen better days, too. Smasher took care of that, destroyin’ the dang thing. Can’t complain, though. ‘Specially considerin’ what he’d done to Saul.
Panam and me didn’t even need to say it. We grabbed Saul and picked ‘im up.
We left that area and kept movin’ down, back the way we’d come.
Alt took care of the security forces inside Arasaka when I’d plugged ‘er into that access port. But we knew more would come. Alt bought us some time, but like always, we had to make use of the little time we’d had.
And Alt was gone. We was on our own.
We’d made our way through the lab, back down into the basement, and then way back down to that lower level where we’d breached the wall with the SERC. Even them mechs we’d seen when we came through with Saul had been deactivated. Alt’d taken care of every last one of ‘em.
When me and Panam got back to that area where we’d met up with Saul and Mitch, Panam’s truck was still there.
Me and Panam loaded Saul’s body into the back, got ourselves into the truck, and motored on outta that tunnel, knowin’ full well there was still a battle ragin’ on over yonder at the construction site.
And hot dang, we couldn't’ve gotten there at a better time.
I mean, better ain’t the right word for it. Everythin’ was goin’ to hell in a handbasket.
The Aldecaldos were still fightin’ off Militech. We’d lost a lotta vehicles and most folks were fightin’ on foot.
The Basilisk was parked and not doin’ much. Was only a matter of time ‘fore a missile’d found its way to the panzer. Or worse, Militech’d send a unit to come back and retrieve it.
We drove straight for it. Soon as me and Panam’d come up to the Basilisk, we’d found Mitch. Still plugged in, but passed out. Lookin’ at the destruction all ‘round the battlefield, it’d looked like he put up a helluva fight. But just like Panam’d warned ‘im, seemed the poor fellas’s brain’d gotten overloaded.
I grabbed ‘im, got ‘im out, and put Mitch along with Saul in Panam’s truck. Got back into the Basilisk with Panam so we could help the family.
We jacked in and evened the odds in that there battle.
And I tell you what. Militech got the fuckin’ message.
No more reinforcements’d been sent. After a few minutes of me and Panam fuckin’ shit up with the Basilisk, them forces that was on the ground and in the air went into a full retreat.
Aldecaldos know there’s a time for hootin’ and hollerin’ and celebratin’ and all that, but that’d have to wait. There was still work to get done.
We’d loaded up anythin’ we could in whatever vehicles was still in workin’ condition. Carol’d secured our comms with ICE, so we was able to communicate on a secure channel.
That’s when Panam told the family ‘bout what’d happened to Saul. Then, she’d laid out a plan with Carol and Cassidy ‘fore we’d headed on back to camp. Not to stay there, mind you. But to pack up and move on out again ‘til our wounded were ready to travel.
‘Cause once everyone who survived was ready to move on again, we was headin’ on outta Georgia, and on our way to Tennessee.
Turned out there was a plan to do that a good while back, but ‘cause Saul’d made that deal with Biotechnica, the Aldecaldos’d stayed put in Sunset Grove.
But all that was in the past. Panam’d told us it was time for a new beginning, a new era for the Aldecaldos.
And, also, I mean when we’d connected with the neurolink, she’d felt my thoughts and knew that I wasn’t completely healed. Felt ‘er determination ‘cross the link. She’d told me we wasn’t done yet. After we got through the battle and wrangled the family up, we’d come up with a plan and she’d reach out to every contact she had to get me some help.
Not to mention we had a shitload of firepower, weapons and tech to sell. And a lotta Panam’s contacts were in the market to buy what we was lookin’ to offload.
Plus, it also turned out that Panam and ‘specially the veterans had some contacts in Tennessee that specialized in brain trauma.
S’almost like it was meant to be.
I’d always wanted to see Tennessee. Heard it’s real purdy, and it’d be nice to see what’s on the other side of these here Georgia mountains.
And yeah, ain’t a secret that Nashville’s where country music was born, so y’all know I wanna get me to Nashville at some point.
Anyway, we had to get back to camp, and we’d needed someone to drive Panam’s truck while me and Pan drove the Basilisk. Cassidy’d volunteered, and we’d all left the construction site and drove on over back to our old camp for the last time.
Soon as we’d gotten there, we set up a triage and tended to all them folks that’d sustained injuries. After we’d helped out them folks, we’d loaded up the transports with the folks that needed more extensive care - like Mitch - so we could move ‘em to the next camp.
‘Cause we all knew we needed to skedaddle an’ find us another spot ‘fore we left Sunset Grove for good.
Panam’d already had us a new spot picked out. Way out yonder the Ridge, nearabouts where my farm used to be.
We wasted no time at all, breakin’ down the camp and movin’ on out.
Kinda funny how things worked out. Just like with Embers and my life in Atlanta, the last leg of my life in Sunset Grove was fixin’ to end where it all started.
‘Fore we packed up and headed out, the family’s ripper told us Mitch was stable enough to get moved. Was still gonna be a hot minute ‘fore he’d be conscious, but the doc’d told us he felt good ‘bout Mitch’s odds.
Panam’d said the gonk was too gotdang ornery to quit. Right ‘fore she’d set my ass down in the ripper’s chair and told me I was no different than Mitch. Too dang stubborn. Needed to siddown and get looked at.
Ripper gave me the lookover, and, well, no disrespect to the family’s doc, but he’d done the best he could.
I needed to see the doc who knew the most ‘bout my condition.
I needed to head into Atlanta and see Vik.
I also had me some biz to tend to.
And a very important question to ask a very important woman in my life.
But first, we Aldecaldos moved camp and held a funeral for Saul, Teddy, Bobby, and all them folks we’d lost in battle.
After we all paid our respects, I asked Panam if we could talk some in private. I wasn’t tryna be uncouth or anythin’ like that, but I had tell ‘er what I was plannin’.
Panam didn’t like what I’d told ‘er, not at first.
But, after a good deal of talkin’ things through, I’d finally gotten Panam’s blessin’. I called my truck on over and headed into Atlanta.
Much as I knew it’d do me a world of good to see Vik, I had more pressin’ matters to tend to.
When I say I ran from the truck, jumped up them stairs and bolted through that hallway leadin’ to Judy’s door, I reckon there was fire shootin’ from my dang feet, y’all.
Soon as I got there I’d lifted my wrist to the scanner and that door couldn’t open fast enough.
Damn near knocked the door off the grooves tryna get myself through.
I didn’t even look to see if ‘er van was parked in the lot. Didn’t think to. All I could think of was gettin’ to Judy.
She was home.
We ran into each other’s arms, and I held onto ‘er for dear life. And the way that she’d held me, I knew that was it. It was time.
Love swelled up in my heart and I’d felt it come up to the back of my throat. I’d pulled back a little from that hug so I could hold Judy’s face in my hands and take me a real good look at ‘er.
My word. Lord almighty.
She really is an angel.
I’d visited death a few times now, and I ain’t ever seen anythin’ as perfect as Judy Alvarez on the other side.
…Did I really make it outta Mikoshi alive? Or did I die for good?
Was this…heaven?
Nah, can’t be. She can’t be gone.
She’s gotta be here. She just has to be.
Judy’s voice brought me back down to Earth. As I held ‘er face, drinkin’ ‘er in, admirin’ how fuckin’ perfect she is, she asked, “V? Are you okay?”
I looked tenderly in ‘er eyes. “I’m better’n okay. I’m here, with you. Judy…I…”
Swallowed real hard as I looked into them purdy eyes of hers. Them beautiful brown eyes that make me feel both grounded right here on Earth, but also like I’m soarin’ high above.
My angel.
My salvation.
My love.
“Gave you my word I’d come tell you somethin’ when I made it through.”
I was ready. I felt them words just achin’ to come out.
But when I opened my mouth to speak, she made it clear that it would have to happen some other time.
“Stop talking.”
Judy grabbed me by the back of my head and kissed me in the most passionate and ferocious way I’d ever been kissed.
But there was somethin’ else. Somethin’ more’n just real hot, skillful smoochin’.
There was an energy ‘tween us, somethin’ more powerful’n just a raw, hot, sexual charge.
I knew what I was meanin’ to tell ‘er. And again, I got a sense that she was already onto me, and had been onto me for quite some time now.
What I didn’t expect was how strongly I was feelin’ it from Judy.
I’d met my match in every way possible.
I found a woman that I loved so deeply, so passionately, so strongly that I’d move heaven and Earth and the stars and everythin’ in between to find my way back to ‘er.
And as we kissed, I knew she’d do the same for me.
What I hadn’t ever considered - well, ‘least ‘fore that kiss - was that she was as deeply in love with me as I was with her.
Sure, I wanted to tell ‘er. But actions speak louder’n words.
Words, well, they’re like lyrics to a song. But there’s so much more to a song than words alone.
When Judy Alvarez kissed me, we made music. She was the melody, the harmony, the meanin’, and the message. And me, well, I was just the rhythm, tryna keep up.
I’m a real good kisser. Ain’t gonna try an’ be shy ‘bout that.
But Judy Alvarez, I swear the woman sends me to heaven every time she puts ‘er lips on mine.
And all them other places on my body.
…My word.
If our first time together was hot, then that next time was straight up fire. We was twin flames, burnin’ bright, heatin’ up everythin’ around us and might could burn down the whole dang city.
Me and Judy’d done things I can’t even pronounce.
Reckon we’d even made up a few words ourselves, the wild shit we’d done.
But again, words fall short. Lyrics without music is just writin’, like poetry.
What Judy and me done that time? Shiiiiit.
It was as if Love were a movie, and we’d made the soundtrack together.
Our first. And plenty more where that came from.
“I’ve got a confession for you,” Judy told me as she ran ‘er fingers through my hair.
I coulda stayed there forever. Felt so good, layin’ in ‘er bed, bein’ by Judy’s side. I didn’t wanna leave. Ever.
And after what she’d done to me, I really did wonder if I could get up. My legs just wasn’t workin’, y’all.
Heh.
Ain’t complainin’ though, not one bit.
I’d mumbled, “Mmm?”
Judy played with my hair some more. “Came across a memory when I was editing our scroll. One of your memories. It was uh…from that night. First time you spent the night here.”
Awe hell, I sure remembered that evenin’. Judy, bless ‘er heart, she was drunk as a skunk and real outta sorts. We sure got us into a lot of trouble; well, ‘least in Heywood. S’far as anythin’ that might coulda happened that night in Judy’s bedroom, I was on my best behavior.
…but I did say some things to ‘er that I was kinda relieved she didn’t remember the next mornin’.
Welp, turns out the scroller picked up that memory durin’ our dive.
“What part’d you come across?”
“The part where I was a mess. And you were the perfect gentlewoman.”
I sat up and took ‘er hands. “I’ve always wanted to do right by you, Judy. Always have, always will.”
She leaned closer to me and said, “You’ve made good on that. And now...remember what you said you wanted to do to me?”
I grinned real big. I knew where we was headin’. I got up and faced Judy at eye level. Brought one hand up to ‘er shoulder while the other’d started strokin’ inside of ‘er thighs. Then, I leaned in and kissed ‘er neck, workin’ my way up to ‘er ear. “Which part? The part where I’d said I’ll kiss, touch, and lick you ‘til you say you need me inside of you? And that I’ll please you ‘til you can’t take no more?”
“Nah,” Judy said with fire in ‘er eyes. She’d gotten up on ‘er knees, grabbed my hand and guided me down ‘er body.
When I got where she wanted me, I was slow-like. Real tender. Bein’ sweet on ‘er.
And gettin’ ‘er fired up for what was next.
She was fixin’ to get it good. And I was more’n happy to give it to ‘er.
Judy answered my question. “The part where you told me that you wanted time. And in time, you’d…” She took my hand that was down low and, well, ain’t gotta put it any plainer than what she’d told me to do next.
Judy breathed heavily in my ear as I slid my fingers all along ‘er, feelin’ that sweet juice of hers coatin’ my fingers. Could damn near taste ‘er on my tongue.
My peach. My sweet, juicy, wet, delicious peach.
Ripe and ready for me.
“Fuck me, V.”
With my free hand I’d pushed ‘er back, grabbed ‘er legs and put ‘em over my shoulders.
And then I done exactly what she’d told me to do.
I fucked ‘er good.
Fucked ‘er ‘til them springs gave out on the bed, and even after we’d broken the bed, we kept goin’, fuckin’ on that mattress on the floor.
Beds, heh. Fuckin’ weak, I tell ya.
Don’t matter, though. We don’t need a bed. Don’t need furniture. We make do with whatever we got.
As long as we got each other, we could do anythin’.
And fuck anywhere.
We’d fallen asleep, holdin’ each other, sweaty, smellin’ like each other, without a dang care in the world. I knew I still had some biz to tie up ‘fore I’d left Sunset Grove, but…
I still needed to tell Judy that I was fixin’ to leave. Still hadn’t asked ‘er if she’d wanted to come with me, but y’all, I admit I was bein’ kinda cocky ‘bout it.
Had me a real good feelin’ that she’d wanna come with me.
Still, I’m old-fashioned. So I gotta ask.
But I ain’t ever slept as good as I do when I’m with Judy. So after everythin’ I’d been through gettin’ to that moment, I just let myself be with ‘er.
Can’t rightly say how long we was sleepin’, ‘cause I reckon time moves differently when we’re together.
I will say this, though.
After that night, I didn’t wanna spend any more nights without Judy by my side.
Judy and me, we’d had us a real beautiful moment. A wonderful evenin’ together.
Breakin’ that bed, it was kinda symbolic. One less thing to worry ‘bout when she did eventually leave Sunset Grove.
And as much as I didn’t wanna leave, when I’d woken up with Judy worried, dabbin’ on my nose and seen the blood, I knew it was time to tell ‘er ‘bout everythin’ that’d happened.
Seein’ the look in ‘er eyes though, felt like my heart was fixin’ to break into a million pieces. Dang, she looked worried and sad, and it was ‘cause of me.
I sat up and put my hand on hers as she kept dabbin’ at my nose.
“S’okay. I got it.”
“No,” she told me. “Let me.”
And when I looked in ‘er eyes, next to seein’ all them sad feelin’s, I’d also seen ‘er love for me.
I still wanted to tell ‘er that I’m in love with ‘er. But I’d learned somethin’ ‘bout Judy Alvarez in the time I’d been doin’ this whole romancin’ thing with ‘er.
She avoids them mushy talks, ‘specially when it comes to how she feels. I know it ain’t personal, nothin’ against me. And I don’t need to know why she does it. All I gotta do is be sensitive ‘bout it and leave it be.
Whenever she’s got somethin’ to say, Judy always comes ‘round. If she wants to say it, she can go on and say it when she’s ready. But I ain’t gonna push, and I won’t say it first. I don’t want ‘er to feel pressured.
And she felt our scroll. She’d seen and felt what it was like for me to sing that song for ‘er.
So she’s gotta know how I feel. She must’ve felt it from me.
It ain’t gettin’ any more real than that, y’all.
But there was somethin’ else she needed to know. I needed to fill ‘er in on what’d happened, and that I was plannin’ to go to Tennessee with the Aldecaldos.
“There,” Judy said. “Think the bleeding has stopped for now.” She put ‘er medical supplies away, and that’s when I’d realized that they ain’t left that spot since the night we rescued Evelyn.
Was like Judy stayed prepared for somethin’ bad to happen in that room again.
…Shit.
Even after all the beautiful memories we’d created, I know it only takes one bad one to ruin it.
And Judy’d had at least three bad memories there. That night we brought Evelyn back. The night Evelyn passed. And now, me with my bleedin’ nose.
After she put them things away, Judy sat up and faced me again. “Guess we never really got to talk about what happened.”
“Nah. We had some other things to take care of, first.” I smiled a little bit, and I was relieved to see ‘er smilin’ some, too.
I took ‘er hands in mine and said, “I done crawled my way through the mouth of hell and made it choke, just like you told me to. Couldn’t wait to come back to you. But…dang. Judy, I got some things I gotta take care of, and I’m…shit, I really don’t know how to say this without just spittin’ it out. I’m fixin' to leave Sunset Grove. For good. And I’d really like it if you’d come with me.”
She’d said only one thing after I rambled on like that.
“When?”
“Can’t rightly say for sure. Depends on a few things, ‘specially how soon our folks can be ready. And also, I mean if you’d be willin’ to accompany me, how much time you’d need to get ready and all. But I ain’t tryna rush you. So please don’t feel like you’d-”
Judy’d wrapped ‘er arms ‘round my neck. “Yes.”
“Wait…yeah? For real?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I want outta here, and I wanna leave with you. Just gotta tie up some loose ends.”
I pulled back from the hug so I could look ‘er in ‘er eyes. We were still holdin’ each other. “Whatever you need. Anythin’ I can do to help?”
“Few things, actually. First, we should talk about what happened. If you’re okay talking about it, that is.”
“Whew girl, I’ll tell you what…”
That’s how a long redneck story begins. And I knew I was fixin' to tell ‘er a long one.
So, we’d decided to throw on some clothes, move outta the bedroom, make some coffee, fix ourselves a little somethin’ to eat, and talk it through in the livin’ room.
I told Judy everythin’. Told ‘er about Panam and the Aldecaldos, ‘bout me and Goro, what’d happened with Hellman, Hanako Arasaka, Mikoshi, all of it.
She’d listened to the whole thing. It ain’t really a happy story, but Judy wasn’t bothered by it.
See, Judy’d been through hell herself. And we’d been through some real dark shit together.
So she could handle it.
And when I told ‘er I got me ‘bout six months to live, she’d said somethin’ that was the same thing I was thinkin’.
“You got yourself more time. Fuck those six months. I think you’re gonna find a way to get years. We will, together.”
I kissed ‘er.
After we’d kissed, I told ‘er, “That’s all I want. Time. And to spend it with you.”
She’d pulled me in, and we had us another one of them kisses that lit up everythin’ ‘round us.
But I knew I couldn’t stay. Was probably there longer than I should be, but I couldn’t give a shit. I was with her.
I waited ‘til she pulled away from our kiss. “My ripper, Vik. Gonna drop on by and get looked at again, see if he’s got any notion of what I might could do ‘bout my predicament. Fella’s patched me up so many times I reckon he’s runnin’ outta thread.”
Judy giggled softly and kissed the tip of my nose. “You’re really cute, you know that?”
“Glad you ‘preciate me bein’ a gonk and all.”
“Oh,” Judy said as brought them lips closer to mine. “More than appreciate it. And I’ll show you how much I do, once you’ve handled your biz.”
And when she kissed me again, I’d felt a charge, a surge runnin’ through me, tellin’ me this is it. Everythin’ I’d ever wanted, right in that moment.
No more waitin’ patiently for me. I had it.
I had it all.
Took me a while to leave Judy’s, but y’all I finally made it outta there and headed on over to Vik’s.
Doc did a full scan and check-up on me, and told me pretty much same thing Alt’d told me.
My brain was damaged beyond repair and all that. Same thing ‘bout how my body was attackin’ them neurons and all.
But, Vik gave me some immunosuppressants and told me how to take ‘em, what they’d do to me and such. Said they’d make things a little easier on my body.
Vik also told me, “This isn’t a permanent solution, V. More like spit ‘n’ glue.”
Heh. Must be ripper talk. Last I’d heard ‘bout ‘spit ‘n’ glue’ was when I’d seen Johnny’s memory at his ripper’s, right after Alt’d been kidnapped.
Johnny….Johnny…
As that memory flashed in my mind, I’d had me a realization.
After Vik and me said our goodbyes, I’d called up Panam and told ‘er I was gonna be in Atlanta for a few more days.
When she asked me what I was fixin’ to do, I’d answered, “I gotta go see Rogue ‘bout somethin’.”
Panam huffed and done hung up on me.
That big ol’ bouncer was still workin’ at the Afterlife, and as usual, let me right on in once I got to them doors.
Rogue was right where she’d said to meet ‘er, back in ‘er booth.
Lookin’ fierce as always.
She motioned for me to siddown, and I did. It was just the two of us in ‘er booth.
Rogue already had drinks waitin’ for us. Two glasses, and one jar of moonshine.
She’d found out what my favorite drink was.
Rogue handed me a glass and grabbed one for herself. After we raised our glasses to each other, she said, “Gotta hand it to you, V. I’m impressed. When you told me you were gonna go after Hellman, I was sure you’d come back as a garbage bag full of smithereens…but you did it. I’m not usually wrong about people and what they’re capable of. I’m curious to see what else you’ve got in ya. If you’re lookin’ for your next job, you’ve come to the right place.”
I took a sip of moonshine. Then I told ‘er, “Actually I did come here for a job. This one’s for you and me together.”
Then, I’d seen somethin’ I ain’t ever thought I’d ever see in my whole dang life.
Rogue Amendiares. Surprised.
I’d handed over that access thingamajig I’d looted off Smasher when I’d killed ‘im.
Rogue held it up and asked me, “Where’d you get this?”
“Whooo dang have I got a story for you…”
S’good thing I’d left my Aldecaldos jacket at Judy’s place. Told ‘er to hang onto it for me. It was also my way of tellin’ ‘er I wasn’t leavin’ town, not without pickin’ up that jacket.
And her.
But also, I figured if Rogue’d seen me in Aldecaldos colors, she’d realized that me and Panam got mighty close. So I left Panam outta my biz with Rogue.
Anyways, after what I’d told Rogue ‘bout Johnny, somethin’ happened to ‘er. Rogue looked like years’d been lifted from ‘er. Had a feelin’ it gave ‘er some closure. ‘Specially after I’d told ‘er ‘bout killin’ Smasher and all.
Speakin’ of Smasher, Rogue’d gotten the spec on that there access token I gave ‘er, and found out it was a key for a secret area tucked away on an AV called Ebunike.
Findin’ Ebunkie wasn’t hard at all. I mean, it was a huge ass AV marked with ‘Saka logos, sittin’ in Northside like a scarecrow out in a field.
What was tricky was the security workaround. But Rogue and ‘er Afterlife mercs took care of that for us.
We’d worked our way up to that area where the access key’d let us in, and when we finally got in, hot dang.
Place was armed to the teeth and had all kinds of chrome and shit. Reckon that’s where Smasher’d go to swap out them parts of ‘is, if he ever get bored with somethin’ or another. What do I know? Guy was a chromed-out borg-man. Can’t rightly say I know what the man was thinkin’, if he done any thinkin’ at all. Reckon it was mostly just programmin’ by the time our paths’d crossed.
Anyway, there was weapons in there I ain’t ever seen. Didn’t know what most of ‘em were, but I had an idea who might - Carol, Cassidy, Mitch and Panam.
Rogue didn’t give a shit ‘bout them weapons, though. She was in it for the intel.
We found us a computer that had a fuckload of intel.
Includin’ a conversation ‘tween Smasher and some fella named Jeremiah Grayson. Based on that conversation, we’d found out where Grayson’d stashed away somethin’ Smasher’d given ‘im.
Somethin’ real important.
A Malorian Arms 3516 14mm heavy pistol that was custom-made for the one and only Johnny Silverhand.
Then, somethin’ even bigger.
That conversation ‘tween Grayson and Smasher revealed where they’d dumped Johnny’s body the night he’d gotten Soulkilled.
Now that part, that wasn’t a job for me and Rogue. But she’d had ‘er some contacts that were in the business of…what’s that word for diggin’ up bodies? Oh, right. Exhuming services.
In less than a day, Johnny’s remains’d been recovered, cremated, and packed away. Then, me and Rogue went together to the North Oak Columbarium, got a marker for Johnny, and put ‘im to rest.
I added that iron of ‘is along with them dog tags I was holdin’ onto. That made me think of somethin’ - the bullet necklace ‘round my neck.
Made me realize maybe it was time for me to get let go of that part of myself so I could move on.
But kinda like with Johnny, I wanted it to be done in a symbolic way.
It was another thing to look forward to.
Me and Rogue left the columbarium together and rode back to the Afterlife.
After I told ‘er ‘bout Johnny and Mikoshi, Rogue’d told me she half expected Johnny to come back and walk inside the Afterlife like he’d always belonged there.
When we’d parked at the Afterlife, she told me to come ‘round the back of ‘er car.
Rogue popped the trunk. Told me she’d searched high and low for Johnny’s original Samurai jacket, but she couldn’t ever find it. And I tell you what - if Rogue Amendiares, queen of the Afterlife couldn’t find it, I reckon the dang thing wasn’t gonna get found.
So, she had a replica made.
Rogue gave that jacket to me. Said she wished Johnny could have it, but with ‘im bein’ gone and all, I was the next best thing.
Heh.
Reckon both me and Rogue’d been chokin’ back a little somethin’ when we had that moment, rememberin’ Johnny and findin’ some closure together.
Guess Rogue and me’ll always have a piece of Johnny with us.
I’d asked Rogue if she’d like to come inside and have a drink with me, and she kindly obliged.
Rogue started walkin’ back to ‘er booth, but I’d asked ‘er to sit at the bar with me. She looked at me kinda shifty, but I’d sat down and patted the seat next to me.
She smiled again, and I swear I’d seen a twinkle in ‘er eyes. That was a rare sight.
Claire’d come on over to us and asked what we was drinkin’.
I asked Rogue if she minded if I’d ordered for us, and she gave me the go-ahead.
“Two Jackie Welles, if you would please, Miss Claire.”
Claire remembered Jackie’s recipe.
‘Specially the part ‘bout addin’ in a splash of love.
When me and Rogue’d lifted our glasses to toast one another and drank, I had a feelin’ somethin’ special’d happened ‘tween us.
Reckon there’s all kinds of words to explain it, ‘cause it’s a real complicated thing that takes a lot of work to build.
But I like to keep things simple.
Me and Rogue, we had respect for one another.
And that’s somethin’ I’ll gladly drink to.
After my dealin’s with Rogue, I’d gone back to camp to drop off them weapons and the tech I’d lifted off Ebunike. Me and Panam met up, and that’s when I told ‘er I had one last trip to make to the city.
And when I come back to camp, I wasn’t comin’ alone.
“That gonna be alright? I don’t wanna ruffle any feathers or anythin’, but I think you and me both know I ain’t leavin’ Sunset Grove without ‘er.”
Panam reached down into the cooler and opened up two Brosephs for us. She lifted ‘er bottle and said, “To family.”
That was Panam’s way of givin’ me ‘er blessin’.
Panam knows Judy’s my family, same as the Aldecaldos.
And since Judy’s my family, she was now part of our family.
Reckon there’s gonna be a ceremony-type deal, like what Saul’d done for me. But for the time bein’, Panam knew. And soon enough, everyone’d know.
I was real glad Panam gave me the nod. ‘Course like I’d told ‘er, she knew I wasn’t goin’ anywhere without Judy.
But it was gonna be a win for everyone all ‘round. Judy has a lot to offer our family. She’s a genius with tech, so Dakota and Carol’ll sure ‘preciate Judy’s know-how. And after what Judy’d told me ‘bout that firetruck she’d fixed up, I knew Mitch and them would love havin’ another mechanically-inclined person around. I mean, I can jury-rig somethin’ in a pinch, done it plenty of times. But Judy, well, there ain’t anythin’ she can’t do.
And I mean that in every way possible.
Soon as I got back to Atlanta after leavin’ camp, y’all know I went right to Judy’s apartment.
I’d told ‘er this was my last trip to Atlanta, and soon as she was ready, we’d head on outta Sunset Grove.
“Already got buyers lined up for the apartment and the van. As soon as you asked, I listed them both.” Judy told me.
As I looked at ‘er, somethin’ came to me.
“As soon as you asked…”
When she’d said that, it planted a seed in my mind. I was gonna wait a good long while for that seed to grow, but just like with everythin’ else with Judy and me, I’d just know when it was the right time.
Time.
We got us some more time.
And I knew exactly how I wanted to spend it.
I kissed Judy. Kissed ‘er how I imagined I’d kiss ‘er if all our friends and family was there, witnessin’ the two of us makin’ our promise to spend the rest of our lives together.
Judy and me’d spent them last few days together in Atlanta. She was almost done compilin’ that braindance that we’d scrolled, but she said she’d finish workin’ on it after we’d gotten settled in Tennessee. She also told me she’d come ‘cross somethin’ else while lookin’ at the scroll, but she needed more advanced tech to make any sense of it.
I asked ‘er what it was, and Judy said she had an idea that might could help in my treatment. But first, she needed the Relic’s specs. I told ‘er I still had the blueprints, and that sure lit ‘er up. Judy then told me she needed access to brain analysis tech.
I told ‘er Panam’s got some brain docs in Tennessee that she’d been in contact with, so we could definitely make that work.
Judy got real excited and kissed me.
After that kiss, we finished packin’ up the rest of what she wanted to bring, which wasn’t much. Judy sold and gave away most of ‘er things. She gave the Moxes most of ‘er braindance editing tech, to go with everythin’ else they already had in Lizzie’s basement. Judy said the new girl could use all the help she could get.
While Judy’d been workin’ on trainin’ up the new braindance editor at Lizzie’s, I’d closed out some biz with all them fixers I’d worked with.
Turns out I wasn’t the only one movin’ onto somethin’ else.
I was real excited for Reggie when she told me she’d decided to get back into media. But instead of workin’ for corpo-controlled media, she’d started ‘er own thing with a few folks me and her worked together to bring in. There was on fella in particular - Max Jones. Took ‘im a hot minute to come ‘round, but he finally broke down and decided to work with Reg.
What was real excitin’ is Reg’d been contacted by a journalist named Bes Isis, and they was workin’ on a feature ‘bout all the gangs in Sunset Grove.
I passed on the contact detes for that Maelstrom fella Brick that me and Jackie’d saved that day we got us that Militech bot.
Far as Wakako goes, I ain’t heard from ‘er since that message she’d sent me after the parade. Didn’t go outta my way to talk to ‘er anymore, neither. Figured it’d do us both a world of good to just get outta each other’s hair.
That fella El Capitán, I’d met up with ‘im to give my thanks for all them gigs he’d given me. And I tell you what - when Smasher destroyed my shotgun, I really hated losin’ my trusty Tactician that’d pretty much earned me most of my paychecks in Sunset Grove. And while I was happier’n a piggy in sunshine when Judy’d given me ‘er twelve gauge, it just wasn’t the same as my Tactician. But El Cap, he’d filled that void for me. Gifted me a real preem iron - the Bloody Maria, a modified Tactician. And whooo-whee, she packed a HELLUVA punch! Way more powerful’n my old iron. Best part was she fit right in that gun rack I got in the rear window of my truck.
Heh, kinda reminds me of that gonk-ass joke ‘bout playin’ a country song backwards.
Y’all know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout, right?
Okay, I’ll go on and tell it, but Imma let y’all know not all country songs are like this, okay?
Anyway, the joke goes like this.
What do you get when you play a country song backwards?
You get your dog back, your wife back, your truck back…
Corny, I know.
…but uhhhh, well. I’d lost my family, my truck, my guitar, my Tactician…hell, even my life.
And in a way, I’d gotten all that stuff back. In a different kinda way, but dang. Look how things came to me.
Can’t ever see how thing’s’ll turn out. And I ain’t ever expected things to happen the way they did.
But we can’t change the direction the river runs. Just gotta go with the flow.
I’d had a few belongin’s in my Northside apartment that I’d packed on up. Not much, since I’d kept most of my important things in the truck and all. That was the whole point of that place, though. It was a safehouse, a crashpad, somewhere I could run to and lay low.
It done served its purpose, and I was ready to say goodbye.
Cleared the computer, emptied the hard drives, and got them sheets and towels all washed and set back up again. Everythin’ in its right place and all.
Closed the door, hit the access pad, and ended my lease.
Called Judy, and she let me know she still had some biz to settle with the Moxes.
And I was glad that I had me a bit more time, ‘cause I had to say a few more goodbyes that were gonna be the hardest of all.
I called Padre first.
The hit that was on me in Heywood’d been lifted, thanks to an agreement that Padre’d made with the Valentinos. I was still banned from El Coyote, and as long as I didn’t do any more biz in ‘Tinos turf, they’d let me pass through. Kind of win all-around, ‘specially since I wasn’t plannin’ on workin’ any more gigs in Heywood. I mean, me and Padre’d cleared everything on ‘is docket, but y’all know how things work in Sunset Grove. There’ll always be jobs.
But, like Reggie, I had a sense that Padre’d wanted to turn things over and get outta the biz. But the guy’s like the godfather of Heywood. So, I reckon even if he did get out, somehow he’d get pulled back in.
Huh.
Ain’t that the way of it sometimes.
Anyway, we’d said our goodbyes, and I gave ‘im my word I’d keep in touch. Me and Padre, we go way back. Outta respect, I wanted to check in on ‘im, make sure he’s doin’ alright.
Also, it was another way for me to make sure someone was keepin’ an eye on Mamá Welles.
Mamá Welles. That was gonna be my next goodbye, and my hardest.
Couldn’t go back to El Coyote Cojo, so I couldn’t say my last goodbye to Jackie at ‘is ofrenda.
But I had me an idea.
‘Fore I’d done anythin’ ‘bout that idea, I’d called Mamá Welles.
She’d picked up, and I asked if I could see ‘er, outside of the bar.
“Por supuesto. Even though you fuck up in my bar, I’ll always love you, mija.”
Then, she’d told me to meet ‘er at the house so we could have one last supper together.
When I got there, I’d walked in and found ‘er. That wasn’t the surprisin’ part.
The surprisin’ part was she was in the kitchen, drinkin’ and talkin’ with Misty.
Turns out they’d gotten real close and been spendin’ lots of time together. Mamá Welles’d say it’s ‘cause Misty’s too skinny and needs to put some meat on ‘er bones.
But me and Misty, we both knew it was ‘cause she liked the company. And it gave both Mamá Welles and Misty some comfort to ease the sting of losin’ Jackie.
I was real glad they had each other. I missed ‘im, too. I felt the sting of losin’ ‘im every day since Konpeki.
Which is why I knew I needed to say goodbye ‘fore I left Sunset Grove.
And I knew I wasn’t the only one that coulda benefited from one last visit to the North Oak Columbarium.
On our last day in Atlanta, Judy and me finished all them final touches in ‘er apartment so it was in move-in condition for the folks she’d sold it to. We’d primed and painted all the walls, trashed the bed and the mattress, steamed all the furniture in the livin’ area, and cleaned out ‘er office, kitchen, and bathroom. And I’d proved Maiko wrong ‘bout the smell in the bathroom.
Plenty of baking soda and vinegar took care of that.
Welp, we’d gotten the place tidied up and ready for the new folks to move in, so me and Judy shared our last kiss in ‘er apartment ‘fore we’d headed on over to catch one more view of the city from the rooftop.
Judy kept lookin’ over at the skyline. Her voice sounded distant when she spoke.
“Just here, now, I realized I never felt right in Atlanta. Used to think there’d come a day when I’d finally call it home. Thought…any moment now, I’ll feel safe, even comfy.”
I kept lookin’ over to the skyline with ‘er. Didn’t say anythin’, just let ‘er think things through.
She continued. “It’s like - I wanna leave, but the city’s pulling me back. Like it’s got another sweet, sweet promise, just for me.”
Fuuuuck, I sure knew that feelin’. Chasin’ that promise of eddies and happiness is what got me in so much trouble.
But them promises, they’re empty. It’s like that devil, whisperin’ ‘zactly what we wanna hear. And we know it’s a lie. But we wanna believe it.
Judy knew that feelin’, too. But we’ll get to that in a minute.
Judy kept talkin’. “Y’know, I used to mark time in stages. One juncture to the next. There was the megabuilding hole-in-the-wall phase, and then the group home phase, the Mox phase… Every time, I’d thought I’d found a home. And every damn time, I came away disappointed.”
She looked over at me, and I felt it in my heart that I’d needed to say somethin’ comfortin’ to ‘er.
“Thing ‘bout promises is they feel so good when we hear ‘em. But when they’re broken, it’s devastatin’. So…there’s somethin’ I need to tell you.” I took a deep breath, and she’d come ‘round and faced me.
“Judy, I can’t promise that we’ll get settled anywhere for a while. But I do want you to feel safe, wherever we go. And comfy. No matter where we go, I want you to feel like you’re home.”
We looked into each others’ eyes, and I swear, y’all. Every time, I get them flutters. She gives me butterflies, every single time.
I could tell that she was holdin’ back on somethin’. And knowin’ Judy, it was ‘cause it was somethin’ she wasn’t comfortable talkin’ ‘bout.
This was gonna be hard for ‘er. So, I stayed still. I just wanted to be Judy’s haven, the place she could come, any time, and know that she was safe.
Home.
Judy softly rubbed my arms as I held ‘er.
“You’ve kept your word. Made good on every promise you’ve ever made to me.”
I answered, “And I always will. Always.”
She took my hands and held ‘em over my heart, and put ‘er hands on top of mine. “I know what you’re holdin’ in there. And I trust you’ll always take care of it. I haven’t forgotten what you told me at the cabin.”
Neither have I.
“There’s only good in your heart.”
“That’s ‘cause I got you in there, Judy.”
And standin’ there, with Judy’s hands on my chest, it reminded me of that mornin’ we was layin’ in the back of my truck, waitin’ for the sun to rise. The moment I’d realized what home really meant to me.
Home was Judy, by my side.
No matter where we was.
I told ‘er, “I always got you in here.”
“And that’s where my home is. Right here, V.”
Once again, Judy knew.
That time when we kissed, it was real slow, soft, and gentle.
Judy and me have had us all kinds of kisses in the time we’d spent together, and we always made the most of the time we shared. Every kiss counted, and every kiss was special.
But that kiss, there was somethin’ kinda…how do I even put it?
It was pure.
The perfect kiss to symbolize the next phase of Judy’s life.
Our life, together.
“I’m glad we’re doing this.” Judy took my hand and squeezed it once we’d settled into the truck, ready to hit the road and head on over to camp.
I looked over at ‘er, and this woman, I swear.
Gets me every time.
But I noticed somethin’. She looked glad, even relieved that we was headin’ on outta there. But there was also like a sadness, too.
“Girls at Lizzie’s, almost all of them were sure I’d flake, back out. Even started a pool, you know, ‘bout me limpin’ back home, tail between my legs. Like many of ‘em, more times than they’d care to admit.”
That made me wonder if she was thinkin’ what I was thinkin’.
‘Bout Evelyn Parker.
I wanted to tell Judy what I had in mind, but I let ‘er finish gettin’ ‘er thoughts out.
Judy’s eyes lowered, and I’d seen that sadness deepen. She still had ‘er head kinda low, but she’d looked up at me and asked, “I ever tell you I planned this with Evelyn? A flight outta Sunset Grove to bliss? Dreamed about what we would do when we finally got the chance.”
I answered, “I remember. Wasn’t tryna listen in on that conversation y’all were havin’ at Lizzie’s the day we’d met, but I couldn’t help but hear. And I’m so sorry things’d turned out the way they did.”
Judy held my hand tighter and said, “Don’t let it bother you. I won’t. Mentioned it ‘cause it feels like I should let that dream go, too.”
I leaned closer to Judy and brought my other hand ‘round and tilted ‘er chin up. Held off on sayin’ anythin’, ‘cause if I’d opened my lips, I knew for sure I was gonna tell ‘er that I love ‘er.
So, instead of speakin’, I let my eyes do the talkin’.
Then, she got all flushed and mushy and tried hidin’ away from me again.
Heh.
Got ‘er.
I waited a minute ‘fore I told ‘er ‘bout my idea.
When Judy looked on over at me again, I told ‘er what I’d had in mind.
“There’s one more thing I wanna do ‘fore we head on outta here. And um, well you ain’t gotta do it with me, but I figured I’d ask.”
“What’re you thinkin’?”
“Well,” I’d cleared my throat. “My best choom, Jackie. I ain’t visited ‘is plot over in the North Oak Columbarium. Figured since I’m there, I’ll say one last goodbye to Johnny, too. And I uh, well, d’you wanna say goodbye to Ev?”
She nodded and kissed my hand ‘fore she looked outta her window.
Reckon she was gettin’ emotional, so I kept my eyes on the road as I drove to North Oak.
We’d rolled on up to camp right at nightfall, just in time for supper. When we’d joined the family ‘round the fire, the Aldecaldo’s greeted Judy and welcomed ‘er in like one of their own.
Judy snuggled on closer to me and we ate together, sittin’ with the Aldecaldos all ‘round a big ol’ bonfire.
And, when Mitch’d come out to join us with Panam by his side, we all knew what was comin’ next.
Everyone was on the mend. This was our last night in Georgia. Come mornin’, we was gonna pack it all up head on out to Tennessee.
Panam came on over and sat with us, and I introduced my girlfriend to my best friend.
“Panam Palmer, this is Judy Alvarez.”
Panam extended ‘er hand to Judy, and Judy gave ‘er a firm handshake.
“Heard a lot about you,” Panam said. “Only good things, of course. This one here, she is totally gonk for you.”
Judy smiled and told Panam, “She’s gonk all the time.”
I nudged ‘er and said, “Ever since I met you.”
Then Judy told Panam, “Thanks. For havin’ me along.”
Panam grinned at us both. “I like your jacket. But I hope you are not overly attached to it.”
Judy asked, “Oh. Um…why’s that?”
Panam put a reassuring hand on Judy’s shoulder. “Gonna need to borrow it. For the measurements.”
I knew what that meant.
Panam was fixin’ to do for Judy what she’d done for me - she was gonna have an Aldecaldo jacket made for Judy.
Panam got up and went back on over ‘cross camp. Mitch went with ‘er, and Carol followed. I figured they were workin’ out the details for our trip.
When I looked over, I wondered if they’d needed me to join ‘em. But then Cassidy came over to us and told me to go on and get my guitar outta the truck once me and Judy finished our supper.
And after I did, he’d sat me down and taught me the lyrics to the song that the Aldecaldos traditionally sing ‘fore they head on out to their next destination.
Once I had the lyrics, chords and melody down, Cassidy wrangled on up the rest of the folks who played instruments.
Then, for the second time, I sat facin’ Judy and sang to ‘er.
‘Cept that time, I had me a whole band of Aldecaldos joinin’ in.
And we sounded good.
Summer’s starting, and the heat it swells
As the green leaves grow in thick where all the blooms fell
Couples lay out on the shaded downs
Me, I got a vision there’s a place I have to go leaves brown
If you’re coming, then walk by my side
If you’re staying back, then kiss me goodbye
I’m going into the thicket
And right through the thorns
To look for the land of my dreams
Some folks root down in the earth they know
Or they tumble through the flatlands as the winds blow
Others follow where the river flows
Me, I’ve got a vision and no matter how I’m pushed and pulled I’ll go
If you’re coming, then walk by my side
If you’re staying back, then kiss me goodbye
I’m going down through the canyon
And over the falls
To look for the land of my dreams
If you’re coming, then pick up your cross
It’s gonna be a grueling pathway to walk
Our feet might get bloody
Our shoulders may tear
Our little hearts could give out
Before we even get there
But in farmlands, in quaint peaceful towns
In golden cities, I will not settle down
I’m going straight up the mountain, and into the storm
To look for the land of my dreams
I’m going into the thicket
And right through the thorns
Down through the canyon
And over the falls
Straight up the mountain
And into the storm
To look for the land of my dreams
A real tellin’ song, that’s for dang sure. Lemme tell y’all what happened the next mornin’, after we’d packed on up and headed outta camp.
There was a storm threatenin’ us the whole dang way to Tennessee. Tornado warnin’s, thunder rumblin’ out yonder in the distance, lightnin’ strikes, and a dark gray sky overhead with them clouds headin’ our way.
We’d packed up camp and left there faster’n a cheater fixin' to get caught, y’all.
‘Fore we’d left, I gave Judy all-access to my ride. I know Judy’s more’n capable of drivin’ my truck. She rebuilt a fire truck all by ‘er lonesome when she was a teenager, for cryin’ out loud. So my Thorn wasn’t gonna be no thing but a chicken wing for ‘er.
And the Basilisk, that was still me and Panam.
Bunch of us were still worried ‘bout Mitch, but Panam reminded us that Mitch was on the mend, and that he’s got them toughened synapses, dang near fry-proof from drivin’ all them panzers back in the war.
So, Mitch drove ‘is own car outta there.
I know how important cars are to Aldecaldos, and Mitch was no exception. The guy’d fight to the death to drive ‘is ride. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that.
But we all knew Mitch was more’n capable of kickin’ all our asses, so it was a wise move to let ‘im drive out in his own vehicle.
After everyone was loaded up and ready to head out, Panam asked me if I’d wanted to take one last look at Sunset Grove ‘fore we headed out.
I told ‘er anythin’ I needed to say goodbye to, I already done it when I was in Atlanta. Far as my old farm goes, well, I’d lost that a ways back, so I’d already said goodbye to it in my heart.
Then I told ‘er I had everythin’ I needed with me in that convoy of ours.
We left and headed on out to the border. When we’d gotten there, we’d faced us some resistance, so Carol and Cassidy’d gotten ‘em off our tails. Then, me and Panam’d navigated the Basilisk on through a barricade that was coverin’ a tunnel, leadin’ us outta Georgia and over to the Tennessee border.
After we’d crossed, the family’d gone off for a supplies run, but Panam’d told me there was somethin’ she wanted to show me.
It was real late at night, but there was a full moon and a real purdy sky, with the lights twinklin’ high above us.
We’d let the Basilisk idle, and Panam told me to disconnect my neurolink. After I did, she unlocked the hatch, and I lifted it on up.
I stepped outta the cockpit and sat on the hood of the panzer. Panam came out and joined me. And for a while, we just sat, lookin’ out over the land ahead of us.
There was a stiff breeze. It wasn’t real cold or anythin’ like that, but it did give me an idea.
I reached underneath my shirt, grabbed my bullet necklace, and took it off. I held it in my hand, ran my fingers over the bullet that’d gone through my brain and killed me.
It was a symbol of all I’d been through, everythin’ that’d happened to me.
And although I was real proud of overcomin’ all that fuckin’ mess, holdin’ onto that symbol was like holdin’ onto everythin’ it represented.
I was done livin’ a life full of pain, destruction, and despair.
I held my hand on up to the breeze, and when my heart told me it was time, I let go of the necklace.
The breeze carried it off behind me, but I didn’t look back.
I looked forward.
* * *
Well y’all, it’s been a hot minute since I done made me one of these here entries, but I got me a good reason.
I been busier’n a one-legged woman in an ass-kickin’ contest, I tell you WHAT!
We made it to Tennessee without a hitch, thank goodness. And soon as we’d come up to the spot we’d be stayin’ for a while, first thing I done after we’d parked the panzer was find Judy.
She’d come outta the truck and ran right into me. I lifted ‘er on up and we’d kissed, without a care in the world ‘bout who was watchin’ us and what they might think.
And we ain’t been shy ‘bout kissin’ in front of anyone ever since.
Reckon the Aldecaldos’d all gotten used to it by now.
Judy was, is, and has always been the most beautiful sight in the world to me, but…well, y’all.
When I’d seen where we was stayin’, I dang near bawled like a baby.
It was a farm.
Panam’d told us one of the conditions of us stayin’ on the property is we had to take care of things while we stayed there. There was a lotta work to be done, from fixin’ tractors to tillin’ land to cuttin’, fluffin’ and balin’ hay, but wasn’t nothin’ me and the family couldn’t take care of.
Once we’d gotten settled in, we had us a family meetin’ and Panam laid out the plan for us. We had some biz to take care of, meet up with some folks that were lookin’ to buy some of that tech we’d looted from ‘Saka and Militech durin’ the raid on Mikoshi. And me and Panam, we was gonna follow-up with a contact of hers that had all kinds of experience workin’ with folks who had brain trauma. Judy took an interest in that and wanted to get in on it, and Panam gave ‘er the go-ahead.
‘Specially when she told Panam ‘bout what she’d seen on the Relic’s blueprints, and the idea that Judy had ‘bout lookin’ at my brain some more.
Panam’s contact was outta the country for a few weeks, so we had us some time to kill. Thankfully, all that farm work that needed doin’ kept us busy.
And when we wasn’t workin’, well, me and Judy sure knew how to make use of the time we’d had together.
Judy didn’t bring a lotta tech, but she said it was enough for what she was workin’ on. She got ‘er tech set up where we was stayin’ - a barn on the far side of the farm. Panam and most of the family’d taken up in the big ol’ farmhouse on the property, and a few of the others’d preferred to live outta their trucks, tents and such.
But everyone voted to send me and Judy to the barn, and we didn’t complain whatsoever.
We had us some privacy, and the family could have some peace.
Bein’ way out yonder in that barn, Judy and me could be as loud as we wanted to be.
I do love it when she doesn’t hold back, y’all.
And me, I ain’t got any shame.
Anyway, we’d gotten us a generator out over there and got ‘er tech all set up.
Judy still had some work to do on that virtu, and way I’d seen it, she could take all the time she needed. I was in no rush. I finally got me some more time.
Answers were comin’. I was fixin’ to see a specialist that Panam was certain could help me. I was on a farm, with my family.
With Judy Alvarez by my side.
I sure been though hell, that’s for dang sure.
But I didn’t lose everythin’. Sure, I mean I’d been through an almighty ordeal and I sure did lose a lot.
Made me think ‘bout what my nana’d always tell me.
Whatever’s meant to be will find its way back to me.
One real purdy Tennessee mornin’, I decided to get up real early. I’m talkin’ earlier’n Judy, and that’s sayin’ somethin’. ‘Cause that woman, whew dang she gets up early.
Anyway, we’d had us this little stove cookin’ thang on the end of the barn with a lean-to and stovepipe comin’ out of it. There was also a little table for us to sit, eat, talk and whatever.
I’d gotten us some eggs, fresh bread that the family’d baked, and even found us some real pork sausages.
Once it was all ready, I’d called on over to Judy, “Rise and shine! Breakfast on the table!”
Took ‘er a few minutes, but when Judy’d come out, gotdang she looked even more beautiful than I could recall. I mean, the sun was just startin’ to rise, so the sky had all them purdy pinks and oranges goin’ on.
But Judy was also real pink, like she was hot, or…blushin’.
Then, I’d gotten a notification alert.
“Did you-”
Judy grabbed my face and said, “Don’t you fuckin’ dare watch that holo message! Not yet!”
“What’s on it?”
“Just…V. Wait.” She looked away. “I…fuck. Thought I could do this.”
I led ‘er on over to that table and sat ‘er on the edge. Then, I’d put my hands inside ‘er thighs and gently opened them gorgeous legs of hers on up. I slid my way in, leaned into ‘er, and tipped 'er chin up.
See, I know Judy. Whenever she’s got somethin’ real mushy to say, it’s real hard for her to say it out loud.
But kissin’ and all that other stuff? That comes easy to ‘er. And it’s also Judy’s way of sayin’ what she wants to say out loud, but can’t ‘cause she gets all embarrassed whenever she’s bein’ vulnerable like that.
So that was my way of tellin’ ‘er she didn’t have to say it out loud. That she could do what makes ‘er feel real comfortable.
Judy licked ‘er lips and leaned toward me. I took a real deep breath, knowin’ we was about to have us another one of our amazin’ kissin’ sessions.
And knowin’ what that usually leads to.
…But right ‘fore our lips touched, Panam came marchin’ on up to us.
“It’s time.”
I was still close to Judy. And dang how I wished I coulda used my lips to kiss Judy’s.
Oh well.
I was still lookin’ at Judy when I asked, “Time for what, Pan?”
“The doctor, she’s back. It’s time to bring you in.”
I leaned my forehead against Judy’s. “Of course it is.”
Judy giggled and kissed me softly. “C’mon, you. Let’s delta. Been waitin’ for this.”
I looked up and asked, “What about that message?”
She got real blushy again. “Well…Hold onto it for now. It’s worth the wait, I promise.”
“Just like you,” I whispered.
“Ugh,” Panam said ‘fore she’d turned ‘round and walked away. “Get dressed. Meet me by my Thorn. And make it quick.”
“Guess that means no time for kissin’, huh?”
Judy laughed. “Got that right. ‘Cause you and I both know how you like takin’ your time.”
“Ain’t ever heard you complainin’,” I told ‘er.
“And you never will.”
Much as I wish we’d had more time that mornin’ to love on each other, I knew that the whole reason we’d come to that spot in Tennessee was to be close to the facility where Panam’s contact worked.
And though me and Judy didn’t have much time together to do what we’d wanted to do that mornin’, I knew that gettin’ dressed and headin’ on out was gonna get me closer to a solution.
Maybe even a cure.
Whatever was gonna happen, I knew one thing for sure.
I got me a family. I got me a woman I love deeply.
And, I got somethin’ else, somethin’ that I damn near forsake back in Sunset Grove.
I got hope.