Note: 1800 style clothes are not out of style. There are those in the crowd that still wears something like it. It is the purpose of the clothes. Mrs. Clean would wear such clothes when doing the wash and clean part of her job but not when she is selling supplies or washing machines. And 1800 style clothes should not be limited to a top and skirt, women have worn pants at the time, especially in the west and pioneer regions. Levi Strauss made the jeans version of them.
 
Characters Ruth and her girls wear this type of "Cowgirl" clothing over dress/skirt/top. So does Val.
 
Still working on the next post...

FYI. I know no one has defined the town we are in but this is how I see it. I left out the main road north out of town which would lead to the town where the slave headquarters were.  Zoey took off towards the dirt road to the north.  The woods to the north would have been man planted to supply trees for new lumber for the town. most older towns will most likely have one if possible. otherwise the area is plains and bad lands. Valentine will be riding about 5 miles or so north west at end of post. note: picture is no where near scale. threw it together in less than a minute.

Fernando walks the short distance over to Karl’s SUV and gives Macey stern look before pointing to the ground and then to her. Macey takes the few steps to where he pointed, looking at the ground with each step she took to get there. Fernando looks away from her as he looks inside the SUV and finding Karl sleeping inside it instead of the camper where he last seen him hours before. He opens the rear door of Karl’s SUV and check him out. He was still sleeping but this was more like a normal sleep it seemed to him. He hopes that Karl would wake up soon and have something to eat soon. But still with a concussion, it’s going to take a day or two for him to totally recover. He closes the door and signals to follow him to the camper. He opens the door to his camper and points to the rear of the camper where the bed was at.
 
Macey complies and climbs into the camper and then onto the bed. As she climbs onto the bed, Fernando opens his jacket to let Meeshie out but she fell asleep in the warmth inside. He climbs into the camper and steps over to the bed area and points for Macey to get to the furthest edge. She reluctantly shifts over. He opens his jacket again and carefully pulls out the tiny cat from within without waking it. Meeshie does wake up when placed on the bed, stretching and yawning from the curled up ball she was in. She goes back into that curled up ball but looks at Fernando and then at Macey.
 
“Meow?” Meeshie seems to ask her question.
 
“Daughter. Not happy with her either. Disrespected a kitten and then disrespected a friend.” Fernando tells the cat.
 
Meeshie turns to Macey and growls at her, raising a paw and extending her sharp claws from their sheath.
 
Fernando tells her, “Meeshie, relax.” Meeshie glances over to Fernando and then hisses at Macey, swinging her paw towards the girl but deliberately missing. Fernando grabs her by the neck and chest, to which Meeshie bites on his closest finger and buries her claws into the meat of his hand under the thumb. He flips her over on her back and shakes her into the shake, telling her sternly, “Meeshie, Relax!” Eventually the cat sheaths its claws and stops biting on Fernando’s finger, licking him where she bit him. “Relax girl. I will take care of her.”He tells her. Meeshie seems to calm down enough for him to let go of her and turning to Macey. “Only she can do that to me because she’s a cat. Not a human. Her level of understanding is higher than ours but her physical limitations prevent her from going any further than just what she is – a cat. She does not trust you but she trusts me with her life because I raised her and trained her. You on the other hand I should send back to where you came from – head first. You need to respect but you don’t. You need trust but unless somebody’s feeding you, you wont. You are just like your mother, always looking for the most power and the easy way out when things begin to fail.”
 
He steps away from the bed, “Right now I’m going to do nothing because if I try to punish you, I will kill you because I am so angered with your crap and shit right now. But don’t you dare move from that spot on the bed. Meeshie is no kitten and she will hurt you like you never been hurt before. I got things to do but I’ll be back.”
 
Fernando steps to the camper kitchen, looking through the piles of cat food. “Hey, Tuna Breathe. Chicken and Vegetable Medley or Beef Stew?” He holds out the cans to her. Meeshie gets up and leans to the Beef Stew can and meows. “OK, Beef Stew it is.” He says before putting away the other can and then opens the beef stew can and pours it into the food bowl putting the food bowl onto the floor. He then fills the other bowl with water and puts it on the floor next to the food bowl. “Come get it girl.” He tells her. Meeshie hops off the bed and pounces on her food bowl to enjoy the meal.
 
Fernando turns to Macey, “Don’t let her eating fool you. Move from that spot and she will hurt you more than you can hurt her. She’s taken down large dogs and police officers who got on the wrong side of me. So stay in your spot. You can move out when I return.” He then opens the camper side door, finding Michelle and Francesca there. “You girls need to stop doing that.”
 
“You’ll be out for a while so we be watching our ‘sister.’” Michelle tells him.
 
Fernando steps out of the camper and lets them come in, “Then to let you know, she is to remain there until I return.” He then turns to Meeshie, “They’ll be here to help you out.”
 
Meeshie looks at the older women as they sat down on the bench that is part of the bed, returning to her food bowl as if she rolled her eyes at them.
 
“Yeah, yeah, I know girl. But let them handle Macey and you relax your tail until I return.” Fernando tells the cat.
 
“She’s just a cat, she does not understand you…” Michelle tries to point out.
 
“I don’t know, Rachel and the others say that Meeshie understands what you tell her.” Francesca replies.
 
“Just deal with Macey. Meeshie can take care of herself. I’ll be back.” Fernando tells them before he closes the door.
 
Fernando takes his walkie talkie radio and raises the volume, listening in to the chatter in looking for Zoey while he walks over to the front of Karl’s SUV to look over the area. In the distance at the town’s entrance he can see Joanne returning with Marvin, La La and Li Li. At the same time the audio of his radio kicks in, forcing him to lower the volume.
 
Quote:

 
“No need. Had radio on.” Fernando replies.
 
In hearing the good news, Fernando relaxes a bit and takes his walk to the village gate to intercept the returning party and see what they got from town. He manages to reach them as they entered the parking area. The Wessens had several bagged items with them.
 
“What you guys got?” Fernando asks them.
 
Joanne did the explaining, pointing out the items they had received, “Marvin was the hardest to get as there were few thing that were in his size, but we managed to get a few pants, shirts and underwear for him from Mrs. Clean’s shop. The girls got some shorts, skirts, tops and underwear as well, and they all got a sox, boots for Marvin, shoes for the ladies, a large hooded coat, a large blanket and sleeping bag.” She reaches into one of the girl’s bags, pulling out a couple of items, “A Meal and Cooking set for them...” then points to another bag, “Some extra food, certain wessens like them eat more vegetables, grains and fruit than meat.” And points to a final bag, “Some personal stuff like soap and brushes...”
 


 
“No guns, no firearms?” Fernando asks.
 
“You trust them with weapons?” Joanna asks.
 
“Respect is given, trust is earned. If they are going to travel with us, they are going to need something to protect themselves and protect us when doing guard duty. Marvin can do guard duty, right Marvin?” Fernando explains. Marvin nods, happy that he has been accepted into the group. Fernando continues, ”Nothing fancy though, a rifle, shotgun, waist gun, a boot gun and ammo for all.”
 
“I can give them a couple of long arms, we got plenty of that. Personal guns we need to go back for.” Joanna explains.
 
“How much money is left in the bag?” Fernando asks.
 
“Still got plenty left.” Joanna answers as she holds up the bag of coins he gave her.
 
“Good. Let’s settle down before you take them back out to own for their guns.” Fernando begins, “Girls, this is Karl’s camper. For now until I figure something out, you two will sleep there with Maribelle and Teri. Marvin, you will be in my box camper behind my ride. For now put everything into Karl’s camper. And girls, go into Karl’s camper to change out of these nurse’s uniforms and wash up a bit. It has a private bathroom. I do not expect you to take a shower but at least wash your hands and face.”
 
La La and Li Li nods their heads before the group heads to Karl’s camper just a few feet away. Fernando opens the door of the camper. As Li Li steps in and puts their things inside the camper beside the kitchen area, Maribelle and Teri coming in from behind carrying some shopping bags.
 
“What are you doing in our camper?” Maribelle complains.
 
“Actually, it is my camper, which I bought for Karl with my money before you two showed up.” Fernando begins to tell her. He continues, “Until I decide what to do and until Karl recovers, I need you to share this space with the girls. And Marvin will be in my camper for now. And Marvin will be driving for Karl tonight. Now, how you four will sleep in there is on you. Share the bed, or they can be on the floor, whatever. You do not make the choices, I do. And it is Karl's camper when I give it to him. Do I make myself clear?”
 
“Perfectly clear.” Maribelle replies.
 
“Look, I’m not trying to push anyone out. But space it going to get tight here for a while. All I care about is everyone share and respect each other. So not to mix the sexes, you ladies will be in this camper until I can get something for them later on.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Don’t trust us to be with the men?” Maribelle taunts him.
 
“Who you let #$@! you is your business. But because we got young children here and such things should not be in place where they can see it.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Shit. Girls been getting it as soon as they can since The Happening. That is no issue anywhere, and no laws put down for or against it.” Maribelle tells him, “If the girls, and I’m assuming they are girls, are willing and ready, it is up to them when they bend over and drop their drawers to get #$@!ed. All they need is for some guy to be willing to give them a proper dicking.”
 
Fernando scowls at her for the moment.
 
“What? I’m tell’in it like it is! And how it’s been since those dark days long before any of us were born.” Maribelle tells him.
 
“OK. What about rape? What is to stop me from forcing you to get #$@!ed by me?” Fernando asks.
 
“The law.” Joanna says from behind him. Fernando turns around to face her, where she continues, “Maribelle is right about if a girl wants to, she can at any age. But the line is drawn when somebody forces a girl against her choosing to have sex with them. If the girl does not want to, it is her right to deny anyone she does not such relations with.”
 
“Rape carries the death sentence in most places ‘round here.” Maribelle throws in, adding, “You can shot on the spot if caught raping a girl.”
 
“Good to know. This law, counts for wessens too?” Fernando asks.
 
“No. It don’t.” Maribelle says.
 
“I’ll talk to General Jastrey about changing the law to include them. Wessen or not, no girl should be raped.” Fernando says, only to be pounced pounce by La La and Li Li in hugs and kisses. Teri seems to be frozen in place for the moment unsure what to do.
 
“Go ahead Teri... you might as well join them.” Maribelle says before Teri pounces into the wooly pile of excitement.
 
“What’s... Going... On... Here...?!!!” Fernando complains from under the girls.
 
“Simple. Wessens are not protected under human laws. If you so want, you could rape Teri or these two girls and the law can’t touch you. Giving them protection under the law means a lot to them than it does to me. So, if you do this for them, then raping a wessen becomes punishable by death, even if she is a sex-kitten.” Maribelle explains.
 
“Then... Tell Them... To Stop!” Fernando says out loud, not wanting to show off his strength.
 
“Girls!” Maribelle tells them sternly, “Get off Master Fernando. He’s had enough thanking for now.”
 
The three sheep girls look up at Maribelle before they slowly get off him.
 
“I Swear…” Fernando complains as he dusts himself off. He then looks at them, “Get in there, wash up and change your clothes like I said. I need to see if General Jastrey has returned.” He walks away around the front of Karl’s camper and past the double tractor trailer blocking off their area.
 
Jason was outside with Wilma and Karol trying to figure out how to separate the tractor from the trailers without upsetting either one. But from their vantage point and probably having never separated them, they think that if they separate the cab, the trailer behind it would fall down. Fernando tries to ignore this activity as he looks out towards the town’s gate to see if General Jastrey was returning. Nothing was there. Worst, Jason calls to him by the false name he had given him.
 
“Hey, Francisco!” Jason calls, calling him one time, “Hey! Francisco!” Fernando tries to ignore his calls as he continues to look for General Jastrey. But Jason was very insistent on getting his attention, walking towards Fernando and continues to call him, “Hey Francisco, don’t you hear me calling you?”
 
Fernando glances over to Jason before giving him a reply, “I’m ignoring you. But you want to be bothersome about it, what the #$@! you want?”
 
Wilma walks up over to them, “If he don’t want to help, he don’t want to help. You should leave him alone, Jason.”
 
“I just want to ask him a question...”  Jason says loud enough to be heard without needing to face her. He steps up to Fernando where Fernando has his cane down at arm’s length to keep anyone at their distance. This includes Jason as he steps up to him.
 
“Then ask your question so you can leave. I’m waiting for General Jastrey to arrive for a legal matter.” Fernando tells him.
 
“This legal matter – concerns us?” Jason asks being side tracked for a moment.
 
“I told you all that I would drop the charges if I and my group are to be left alone. Right now you are not doing that, so, you want to be arrested? Because the more you bother me, the more likely it will be that you and your group will be behind bars tonight and facing the judge in the morning.” Fernando tells him.
 
Jason looks like he just bitten into some sour fruit as he gathered his thoughts to continue.
 
Fernando interrupts him, derail his train of thought, “You did not come here to discuss about the charges being dropped. So say what you got to say and say it now before I start charging you for wasting my time.”
 
Jason quickly gathers his thought to ask, “How do you separate them?”
 
“Separate what?” Fernando asks.
 
“The hauler from the trailer boxes.” Jason adds.
 
“How long have you had them?” Fernando asks.
 
“Over 8 years, but what does that have to do with anything?” Jason throws back.
 
“In those 8 years the tractor was never separated from the trailers?” Fernando asks.
 
“Well, they were. A couple of times. But those who did it were caught by the slavers, and the rest of us do not know how to.” Jason says.
 
“Hmph...” Fernando says to himself, knowing that the flushing of the filters will give them more than 10,000 miles or so, it is no guarantee that those would be trouble free miles. Replacing the filter cores and flushing out the system would give them more trouble miles. It still depends on where they are getting the crap fuel and how long they drive. 10,000 or more miles can be covered in less than a month’s time driving non-stop with a rotating crew. He then looks up at Jason, “What makes you think that I know?”
 
“Because you and your friend fixed the truck and then drove it over here.” Jason tells him.
 
“Just because I know how to fix a truck with some help from a friend whose skills are better than mine fixing trucks, does not mean I know everything about them.” Fernando tells him as he walks to the side of the truck. He then points out the various points of interest, “One - that bracket with the tiny wheels on it is called the landing gears. You need to unlock and drop the landing gears and then jack up the trailer just an inch or two using this hand crank. Then you lock it. That ensures that the trailer will not fall down when the tractor pulls away. Two – There is a plate on the tractor which the trailer rest on, it’s called a fifth wheel. Reach in and pull the handle behind it to unlock it. Three - these cables connected to the trailer, disconnect them. They should come off easily. Then hang them on the hook at the back of the tractor.  Four - Drive away slowly and they should disconnect. As you do this, check and recheck how it is going along. Now try it.”
 
Note: Tractor Trailer disconnection and connection video on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWnyD36_uk
 
“Try it?” Jason asks.
 
“Yes, just do it.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Alright. One - lower the landing gear...” Jason says as he unlocks them and cranks them downward to the ground. Once they are on the ground, he continues cranking with some effort to raise the trailer a bit off the fifth wheel on the tractor.”
 
Fernando inspects his work and then nods, “Next step.”
 
Jason sighs before saying, “Reach behind the fifth wheel plate and pull on handle found there to unlock it... Let’s see...”
 
“You can go under the truck with some caution to find the handle. When you find it, pull on it to unlock the fifth wheel.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Alright.” Jason says before going under the trailer and look at the rear of the tractor from behind. He can be heard saying, “Find handle... pull onto it.” A ‘Thunk’ sound is heard when he pulls on the handle, freeing the fifth wheel. He crawls out from under the truck.
 
“Three?” Fernando asks.
 
“OK, three - Uhm... disconnect the cables from the trailer.” Jason says before he steps up to the front of the trailer and disconnects the cables. After disconnecting the cables, he sees a resting hook for them to go on at the back of the tractor and hangs the cables on the hook.
 
He looks at Fernando, “Now I drive out?”
 
“Slowly drive out. In fact you should pull out a tiny bit and see if the fifth wheel plate separated. If it has, then you pull out slowly. Once you pull out, drive about 10 feet away.” Fernando adds.
 
“OK.” Jason says before he gets into the cab of the tractor. The engine gets turned on and the engine left to idle for a while to warm up. Then the tractor lurches forward. It moves forward about half a foot before it stops. Jason steps out of the tractor and inspects his work. Fernando inspects the work before he does.
 
As Jason looks at the tractor and its position as Fernando explains, “This is the fifth wheel plate on the tractor. It spins and locks onto a pin under the trailer, which is your connection between the two. See how there is clearance here? If not. You would need to lower the landing gears some more until there is clearance. You have to check for this every time you connect and disconnect the tractor from the trailer. Since you are clear, you can drive out about 10 feet, then check your trailers before you leave.”
 
“What about reconnecting them?” Jason asks.
 
“Is the same with the steps in reverse. You just have to line up the tractor directly in front of the trailer and then slowly back into them in reverse. Check for clearance when you get close. The rest is simple, back up into the trailer slowly. The fifth wheel will engage when you back up into it and you will hear a snap or pop sound when the fifth wheel engages the pin, it will lock into place on its own. Step out and check the fifth wheel plate and see if it has engaged the pin. If it has, raise up the landing gear a bit so the trailer is resting on the fifth wheel plate. And connect the cable to the trailer. Then test the connection with a tug pull from the tractor. If everything is OK, the trailer should roll with you in the tractor. Step out and rise the landing gears as high as they can so and then you can drive away.” Fernando explains.
 
Jason gets into the tractor and pulls away from the trailers. Once he reaches over 10 feet from them, he stops the tractor and steps out. He checks out the trailers and then the tractor. Wilma and Karol walk over to the tractor on the passenger side and get inside.
 
“Well, thanks.” Jason tells him waiting for a reply before heading to the tractor.
 
Fernando give him a reply, but not one he would appreciate, “Yeah, whatever. Go get this damned thing fixed.”
 
Jason was at a loss for words so instead of making a reply, he walks to the tractor where the women went too and climbs into the driver’s side. In a few seconds, the tractor’s engine revs up a couple of times and then lurches forward, rolling into town to get its repairs done.
 
It was not for a couple more minutes that General Jastrey rolls in with her entourage, parking her vehicle by the tractor-less trailers. She steps out of the vehicle with a leather document folder under her arm.
 
“Before I give you these papers, have you decided what would be your next stop?” General Jastrey asks.
 
“We have not met about that yet but will be soon enough.” Fernando tells her. He then adds, “If you got a couple of minutes to spare, my EMT partner wants to ask you a couple questions about the law, and I have a couple of questions to ask myself, based on hearsay but I want to verify if it is true.”
 
“First - what are your questions? I’ll spare a few minutes for your EMT partner after our talk.” General Jastrey says, “Let’s go.”
 
They begin to step away from the way, getting closer to the Russian all-terrain vehicle.
 
“First off, rape has a death sentence for the rapist. But why does it not count for wessens. From what I hear, there is no protection for them under the law, that I can take any female wessen and have my way with her. But do that with a human, I get the death sentence.” Fernando explains.
 
“I see where you are getting at. And you’re right. I have my people going over the laws and making proposed changes to them to include wessens. Then we will have a town meeting to amend the laws to include wessens. It’s just it is going to take a while for those changes to be voted on.” General Jastrey explains.
 
“I see. At least something is being done about it. And the treaty does include wessens and mutants to be counted as humans.” Fernando tells her.
 
“You have another question? You said you have a couple.” General Jastrey replies.
 
“It’s about girls, sex and the age where they can have sex. In my time, certain areas had laws where one can legally have sex with a girl once she reaches a certain age. But I was told that no such laws exist right now. Is that true?” Fernando asks.
 
“Hmmmm...” General Jastrey thinks to herself, “As far as I know from long ago such laws did exist but were never enforced. I’m guessing that over time the laws were thrown out because it was a waste of time enforcing a law that two people were in agreement in doing such activity. So, as it is, if a girl thinks she is ready for sex, she can have whatever age she may be. I’ve known girls to be sexually active at age 9, and grown women who never did it, but the average is around 13. Again, only if she thinks she is ready and is a willing participant. I can see your concern, and I’ll talk to the other ladies of the council and see what we can do. As is, this is a military state under military rule. Laws about sex, is not included in military law of conduct. That is a civilian matter to contend with. The civilian council deals with that and the military enforces the civilian laws.”
 
“Thanks you, that is all I need to know.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Let’s go over these paper work before I give them to you.” General Jastrey tells him as she opens the leather document holder. She continues, “Each set of papers is for each individual. These are Karl’s papers, then Teri’s, and these are Maribelle’s. This second set are for Master Johnson’s wessens: Marvin, La La and Li Li. Unknown to them, La La and Li Li are twin sisters. But they came in on separate times and are made to believe that they are cousins when they are actually sisters. Marvin is a related cousin.”
 
“I see. How you know they are sisters, let along twins? You have genetic testing ability?” Fernando asks as he takes the leather document folder from General Jastrey.
 
“We have some genetic testing ability through blood tests. It is those blood tests that La La and Li Li were found to be identical.” General Jastrey explains. She adds, “There is one more who wants to go with you. Remember Tiny from Herb’s Bar?”
 
“Space is getting tight with our rolling caravan. Besides he would be better off working for you as a strong arm enforcer for you.” Fernando explains.
 
“I thought so too. But he was rather incoherent but kept mentioning about going to Fight Town to help you there. Don’t know what it is about, but when a wessen gets like that, you either ignore it or deal with it. It’s like a 6th sense with some of them. Personally, the way he is acting, I think it is something to deal with.” General Jastrey points out.
 
“I was thinking about Fight Town, and then Lab Town, but not without some planning and back up.” Fernando points out.
 
“I’ve been planning a hit on Lab Town since you showed me that Wessens are humans. When are you having your meeting before you leave for the next town?” General Jastrey says and asks, throwing in, “I would like to be there.”
 
“Around 5o’clock.” Fernando answers.
 
“Alright, where is your partner? I’ll give a few moments of my time to speak with him.” General Jastrey replies.
 
“It’s a female partner, and her name is Jeanette. In fact, there she is at the far end of the trailers.” Fernando points her out.
 
“I see. I’ll talk to her.” General Jastrey says before turning to step to the far end of the trailers. She shouts out to those at the far end of the trailer, “You’re EMT Rescuer Jeanette?”  
 
Fernando looks over the paper work he has before closing the leather document folder and heads to his electric camper.

Notes:
The town is on a former military base, one of many on the area, which were resettled by those taking shelter from The Happening, mostly by the family members of the military that worked there. Due to the large buildings (Control {Communications} tower and several large hangers) on one side and several large long streets, this looks like to be an air force base though Army bases do have air support capabilities (supply planes and Ranger Helicopters) and would have runways too. The only thing to differentiate this being an air force base from an army base is if there are missile silos; Air Force deals with the Strategic Command and with the missiles. Army does not. If they are any missile silos, they have yet to be found by the group; not that it is important. Only thing is that town would have a larger underground facility where food, fuel, vehicles and supplies would stored until needed. Like all military bases, it does have a hospital.
 
General Jastrey is in her early 60s, being in the sun for prolong periods prematurely aged her to look older. The injection of the Bio-pill solution Fernando gave her will repair all that sun damage to her skin and rejuvenate her to around 40-ish. It is not a not pure dose Fernando gave her that would have rejuvenate her to around 25 but a weakened partial dose to give her strength and longevity. Like Fernando said, 'the medication will add 20 pr more years to your life, but those 20 years are not guaranteed as you can be shot and killed tomorrow.' Thus the time during or shortly after The Happening, General Jastrey was a little girl when her family moved into the military base. Her father, as stated in her introduction post, was a high ranking officer on the base. He is responsible for the re-establishment, resettlement and overall law-giver of the area. Thus thus town has no police, but soldiers who act like the police in law enforcement duties.
 
The problem long ago was military law and conduct does not cover civilian crimes. Thus a town council was created to deal with civil law. The military provided law enforcement, protection, schools and training for technical skills, the civilian town council provided the business market ventures and exploring of the area to connect with other towns. As soon as highways were made passable, the convoy started rolling from town to town with this base being a central hug for the area, which covers a radius some 200 miles.
 
But there was always problems with the slavers and the two Lab towns. The new treaty with Slavia, ends the Slavers activities and adds them to the marketing ventures; in cooperation of using their blimps, they can expand their trading routes further. Now they got to deal with the Lab Towns and the creation of the wessens, and the markets that creates (wessen & mutant slavery, sex market. and Fight Town[s] Entertainment.)
 
Around the town are vast farming areas, formerly corporate farms before The Happening. Corporate farms were farms owned by a company and hired a family to run it to grow what it wanted: food like wheat and corn, cotton, and so on. Even cattle, sheep, chicken and other livestock was also produced. After The Happening, corporations were no more and the families on these farms held onto the land for their own Ruth and Joanna's families owned smaller corporate farms, while Maribelle's family owned the biggest farm.
 
Between the towns were Native American Communities, which in short created their own smaller towns in the area. In the 200 mile of the area, there are at least 12 large Native American community/towns and many smaller ones. Thing is, these Native American Communities are not connected to the main highways by choice, to get to them you have to get off the highway and drive on the dirty roads to them.
 
General Jastrey's father kept up the training and the upkeep of the military of the town, including civilian patrols, civilian training and signing up to the military. This includes establishing the scouting program for children where many got their education: reading, writing, and other useful skills. Many of these children would grow up and join the military. General Jastrey was one of the first to do this, and rose tot he rank of Major. After the death of her father some 30 years ago, she rose to the rank of general.
 
Despite this, General Jastrey married and had several children while continuing her military career. Her husband would be missing in action on one of the first skirmishes against Lab Town and the Slavers in the early years. They  would grow up and have children of her own. (as established) Tom or Tom's Firearms and Gun Shop is General Jastrey's grandson. Besides owning the firearms shop, Tom is also one of the police officers of the town through the military.
 
General Jastrey's power within the town is not questioned. She is lenient when enforcing the law as it is an ugly job to do. But she can be quite strict and stern when it needs to be enforced. Certain crimes carry the death penalty but most crimes are punished by hard labor, usually cleaning up the town, roadways and highways with chain gangs.
 
Because of past attacks by slavers, everyone is allowed to constitutional carry of arms but everyone does so because to carry arms in the town means you are to act when the situation calls for it, and many are too peace-minded and do not want to act. So few in the town do carry. A copy of the US Constitution is General Jastrey's office and in the Town Hall.
 
The center piece of the town is the market place, which was established along the longest runway of the base. It is where majority of the businesses are. Next to the runway are the buildings, most are hanger but others are of warehouses. Mrs. Clean took one of the largest warehouses and fixed it up. There she runs her business and rents out space to other businesses and residents. Such planes (warehouses and hangers) can be a market mall within themselves. The center of the runway is the town's main square.
 
Connecting smaller streets and alleys behind the hangers and ware houses is where the rest of the town is spread out through the base. Here is where the town settlers recycled many of the barrack buildings that were abandoned during the military and turned them into houses, apartments, stores, bars and entertainment centers.
 
Before I forget, General Jastrey shares her power with the Town Council. The leader of the Town Council was Maribelle's father, but now he is missing and presumed dead from the Slaver's raid. The position would fall onto the next of kin until there is a vote to replace who would be in the seat of power. But everyone knows that Maribelle would abuse the power given to her, and thus have not told her that is has that seat within the town council. Maribelle's father also abused his power on the council but was politically minded and kept such abuse to a minimum, there is no guarantee Maribelle would do the same, in fact many would fear that she would try to take over the council and the military from that position. Instead the seat of power will remain empty and General Jastrey in power until the next vote.
 
And that is how it has been since. (to be continued)

Hondo and Zoey returned to camp and headed toward their camper. Tonya saw them coming through the camper window and burst through the door, inearly barreled Zoey over, and wrapped her in a hug.
 
Tonya: Zoe! You're alright!! Don't do that to us again!
 
Zoey: sorry ...sis.
 
Tonya: you're damn right we are sisters! And I love you!  You had us all scared!
 
Zoey: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare anyone. I ... I just was embarrassed.
 
Tonya pulled back to arms length.
 
Tonya: you shouldn't even feel embarrassed aroubd your family. We love you and what bothers you we care about.  
 
Hondo: and though everyone has secrets you can trust us, your family, with anything. My family wasn't this way but your mom and I want this for our family. We want you guys to be best friends and someday, though we hope you trust us now, I hope your mom and I can be your friends someday too.  
 
Zoey: but Tonya and I are friends.
 
Hondo: maybe so, but know this, true friends can know everything about one another, good and bad, and like each other better. Not because of what the other has done but because you know them better and because they trust you enough to share. This is why I stress trust to you both so much.
 
Zoey: shouldn't all sisters and brothers be like that.
 
Hondo: They should be but unfortunately it's not true. Mine got better when we got older but still we were never as close as I'd have liked. We never were friends who you could trust with anything. How they were you would hide anything thoughts, fears, or interests from them as they would judge you for them and use them against you. I want so much better for you guys.
 
Tonya: why do you say that hopefully someday you and mom can be our friends?
 
Hondo: because we hafta be parents first. I want to be your friends now too but I hafta be a parent first and a parent makes unpopular calls. I need your respect, trust, and obedience. These are not popular moves and make it hard to be friends. But I need and demand these things to help keep you safe. You understand??
 
Tonya: I actually do.  But on that note, where is mom?
 
Hondo: she should have beat us back.  Did  she radio you at least after I found Zoey?
 
Tonya: no. I've not heard anything.
 
Hondo jumped into the camper and grabbed the radio. He tried to raise Valentine several times but with no answer.  
 
To be continued.....