Fernando makes his rounds, checking on who is doing what and where. He forgot that they are not in a town, and thus there was not market to go to, thus what meals they are going to make will be from what foods they has in storage. He is not aware about the food items gift the Indian women gave Ruth for them.  
 
Not much is going on. Things were more relaxed or seemingly so. The usual crowd is out doing their things; Karl and couple of teens were walking about in their patrol of the area, Fernando says hi to them and tells them that he would be in his camper is no one can find them. Fernando continues with walking the area, trying to avoid certain people but at the same time making sure that certain ones did not cause trouble.
 
Ruth had gotten the Wessen girls together to prepare for lunch, setting up the side table on Hondo’s camper. She explains to them about what is being made and what they are going to do in creating it: soup and a sandwich for most, vegetable soup, a vegetable sandwich with a fruit drink for the sheep wessens, and meat based soup with a meat sandwich and various drink options for everyone else, with the vegetables they prepare going into both.
 
Though Marvin should be sleeping or at least resting, he is returning to camp with a pull cart filled with 5-gallon jugs of water. He hauls it to Hondo’s camper where Val answers the door. She steps out and shows him where to put the water in to refill the tanks in the needed campers. Fernando follows them to what was going on.
 
“Hello Val, Marvin. Everything OK?” Fernando says to them.
 
“Hi, everything’s fine.” Val says.
 
“Good. Just make sure Marvin gets some rest after you’re done as he was on guard duty all night for Hondo and I at Lab Town.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Oh. OK, I will.” Val says.
 
“Not a problem. If He’s OK with helping you, I’m OK with it. It just I want to make sure he gets well and rested.” Fernando tells her.
 
“I’m fine with it.” Marvin says.
 
“See you all later.” Fernando says before he walks away from the area.
 
As Fernando walks, he stops just short of Val’s bronco, seeing the two Jeanette’s standing between Jeanette’s beetle and Karl’s camper. He turns around hoping that they had not seen him and quickly trots over to the back of Hondo’s trailer and goes behind it to his Dub Box camper. From there he goes behind the Dub Box camper and around to his electric camper, opening the side door slowly and quietly before entering. He closes the door quietly, and then locks it. Once inside, he takes off his outer layers, piling them on some corner he can find. Once in his briefs he goes under the blankets on the bed. He did not even care if Ichigo was there and what mode of dress she was in as he pretends to go to sleep.
 
“Well, if you wanted to jump me and have my way with me, I should have taken off my clothes and waited for you under the blankets.” Ichigo tells him.
 
“How about you taking off your layers and join me under the layers and keep quiet. Everything outside seems OK and lunch will be ready in a couple of hours but I do not want to deal with the group leader or her elder twin. Not until at least after lunch at least.” He tells her.
 
Ichigo sits up and takes her layers off until she it just n her t-shirt, bra and panties. She puts her clothes on the cabinet before crawling under the blankets to meet him. He was lying on his side facing the wall with the sliding door. Ichigo crawls over to him and climbs up onto his shoulder to look down at him.
 
“Hey, I thought you were going to take me and do me lovely.” Ichigo tells him.
 
Fernando sighs before answering, “You mind? Keep it down. I don’t want anybody snooping around my camper and listening in to see if somebody is awake in here.”
 
“When I thought I had to sleep with you to get your protection, I did not think I had to ‘SLEEP’ with you.” Ichigo says.
 
“Stop joking around and get quiet.” Fernando tells her.
 
Ichigo somehow climbs over him to be in front of him to face him, needing to lie on her side to do so. She inches herself to get closer and press herself against him, hooking her leg over his.
 
Talking softer now, Ichigo says, “I understand that things are not going well with what is going on. But I am going to be demanding and wanting and needy, because you know my situation and I need you and your protection than a newborn child. So I’ll do anything for you in order to get that, and that is not because you own me as a slave. That is just the icing on the cake.”
 
“How about letting me get some rest and possibly some sleep?” He tells her.
 
“Then excuse me for being such a fan girl who ended up working her way into her favorite rock star’s hotel room.” She tells him.
 
“That does not excuse you from needing to do what you are told to do.” He tells her, “And right now I need some peace and quiet.”
 
“Don’t you want something to lower your stress?” She asks.
 
“Don’t take this as an insult, but no, not from you and not from anyone else.” He tells her.
 
“Oh...” She says to herself, adding, “You don’t like me or something?”
 
“I’m not saying whether I like you or not. That is not the point. Trying to get some rest is which you are making difficult for me to have.” He tells her.
 
“Oh. I thought that when you said that after you win fighting the Lich that you would have me bend over my desk and do me lovely.” She replies.
 
“If you want that one day you will get it, but until then you need to wait. Right now it is not the place or time for that. But mark those words, I will have you lovely one day and that will be the beginning of doing you lovely until you are sore and need to walk funny.” He tells her.
 
Ichigo blurts out laughing. She then lets out, “I hope you’re that good... I have not been done as good as one bragged about it in a very long time.”
 
“Just be prepared when the time comes because it will come.” He tells her. He then turns over to the other side and covers his head and face with the blanket.
 
“Alright big boy, I’ll let you have your rest. But I’ll be right here in case I need you.” Ichigo says before lying down, putting her head on his shoulder and then closing her eyes.
 
-= To Be Continued =-

The sliding door to the camper slowly closed. Sometimes Fernando wished it was a Pre ‘67 Bus (like the elder Jeanette’s ’63 Bus) they had and not a Post ’68 (‘73 model in both Fernando and Jeanette’s original buses), as the Pre ‘67s had swing out Dual Bay Doors and not 1 big sliding door of the Post ‘68s. But the Pre ’67s were also 9 inches shorter than Post ‘68s and that 9 inches in length meant a lot of internal storage space inside the bus, in this case, a bigger bed for them to sleep on. (Note: the ‘73s in both Bug and Bus had the most powerful engine in the US Market of the time, after ’74, air pollution control devices added to the engine killed the power that they were able to produce, just like in many cars of that era.)
 
Ichigo nervously went back to bed, shaking and though tearing, holding back from crying. Crawling under the blanket, she held on to Fernando tightly and begins to cry, wrecking what peace he had for sleep.
 
“Oh what is it now?!!” Fernando says out loud.
 
Ichigo was incoherently babbling at this point, unable to say anything through her tears.
 
Fernando fought her off and pinned her down in the bed, telling her, “You need to relax. We will deal with this later, so calm the #$@! down and relax. Put something on while I am gone. I’m going to get us our lunch – the mid day meal as soon as I get dressed.” She nods at him before he slowly lets her go. He crawls out from under the blanket and gather his clothes from where they were by the piled up on the floor by the corner at the bed. It takes under a minute for him to get dressed.
 
Fernando gets up and steps over to the center of the camper, and push up on the pop-up of the camper to get some air flowing in the camper. He then side steps to the sliding door, opens it and then steps out. He then slides the door closed and walks to the rear of the camper as walking over the hitch between the camper and dub box is the fastest way to Hondo’s camper. He finds Hondo leaning against the rear of his camper.
 
“Wuz up?” Fernando tells him.
 
“Ichigo not comin’ out?” Hondo asks.
 
“She’s scared and won’t be coming out any time soon.” Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo probes to see where it leads, “Well, she needed to learn a lesson.”
 
“She needs many lessons in living this new live. How they are going to be taught, I do not care.” Fernando tells him.
 
“So you’re not angry?” Hondo asks.
 
“For what? Her getting a scare? Believe me, Hondo, it is better if you taught her in a practice drill than for some stranger to teach her in a real situation.” Fernando tells her. He continues, “What’s for lunch? I have not even had breakfast and need coffee. And I’m going to have to drag all that to the camper and stuff her damn mouth.”
 
“Just the usual soup and sandwiches.” Hondo points out.
 
“Fair enough. What else is going on?” Fernando asks.
 
“Nothing really, just checking out the trucks and giving them maintenance they need.” Hondo replies.
 
“Good. I need to check out that camper. It’s running good but I do not trust it.” Fernando replies in kind.
 
“Yeah, damn Spirit Tech. I would not trust it either.” Hondo throws in.
 
“Yeah, whatever.” Fernando replies before he throws in, “I figure one more night before we load up on basic supplies and roll out tomorrow evening for Flight Town, which is 150 miles away. Then we have to prepare for the long haul as Tech Town is 350 miles from there, according to the maps, unless it’s all a mistake and should be 200 miles from Flight Town. Either way it is still a long haul; 350 miles and some of us need to stop and refuel from our stored tanks, 200 miles we can make it but we need to recharge, refuel and reload from the trip. That would take several days. I would need 3 days to recharge the batteries.”
 
“Talked to the Bobsy Twins about this?” Hondo replies.
 
“No and I don’t care. They should know the limits of their vehicles and if they think they have an issue, they can come see us about it in asking.” Fernando tells him. He sighs, “My worst fear is when we get to the ‘No Man’s Land’ Dessert territory – that from what I hear it is a 900 to 1500 mile run. We need to be ready for that on the basis of fuel and food as it will take a few days to cross it.”
 
“That is a long haul.” Hondo says.
 
“A Long Haul we need to prepare for – Hot scorching days and freezing nights. Moro and the Wessens better carry a couple 55 gallon drums of fuel for the group. We’re going to need it.” Fernando points out.
 
“Going to need what?” One of the two Jeanettes asks as they get between Hondo’s camper truck and Fernando’s electric camper.
 
Fernando is not in the mood to see them but it is respectful to share information, “After we hit these next couple towns, we got ‘No Man’s Land’ – a run of 900 to 1500 dessert miles. And we are going to need a few stored 55gallon drums of fuel to replenish what we have while on break there. It is going to be a rough one, at least 5 days of crossing in the extreme heat and cold with breaks for rest, sleep and food. So we better be ready for it when we get there. We are lucky that we have a week or two’s time to prepare for it.”
 
“What about the ride between Flight Town and Tech Town. That is a 350 mile haul.” Jeanette, presumably the Elder one, states. She continues, “The most many of us can do is 250 miles and then need to refuel.”
 
“At 200 miles or so, we stop for a break and refuel with the tanks we got. Consider that a practice run for the run through ‘No Man’s Land.’ I got 20 gallons of gas in 4 5gallon jugs for those who need it but it is my generator fuel.” If you do not have your jugs filled up, let’s say, I’ll fill up your primary tanks in the bug and bus which are 10 gallons each. That should be enough to get you to Tech Town and then you need to refill my jugs.” Fernando tells them.
 
“Not a problem.” One of them says.
 
“What about the Gas camper?” The other Jeanette asks.
 
“This is why you need to have your fuel jugs filled.” Fernando points out and continues, “I am not going to help anyone that won’t help themselves. And with the money we got from the fight, buying fuel and food is no longer a problem. If anyone does not have spare fuel jugs then they should buy them and have them filled. The only ones that are excused are the Motorcycle scouts we are going to have ahead of us as they can only carry 5 gallons in their tanks and have no space to carry a fuel jug. So when someone runs out of fuel, we stop and rest while we fuel up the rides and our bodies.”
 
“What’s the range on the motorcycles?” The other Jeanette asks.
 
“Depends on the variables of fuel mileage but on average about 200 to 250 miles, the same distance as on the Bug and Bus campers. So when they stop, we stop.” Fernando points out.
 
“How far are they going to be ahead of us?” The other Jeanette continues in asking.
 
“One mile ahead. Under General Jastrey they were 10 miles ahead, but that was mostly her men and a couple of ours. But for us, one mile so we can get there quickly if trouble happens.” Fernando explains before throwing in, “Anything else?”
 
One Jeanette thinks while the other replies, “Not really.”
 
“Then good. Now, I request that your group help out with the food once in a while. I know some in your group does guard duty and they are excused from that.  But we all got to put in our fair share.” Fernando throws in.
 
“What do you want us to do?” The first Jeanette asks.
 
“When we get to Flight Town and Tech Town, you can help out in gathering food and fuel for the ‘No Man’s Land’ Run. We will discuss what and how that in Flight Town. But I am going to need every available space in storing the food and fuel we are going to need. That is going to include the Moro’s trailer and in any other available space your group has as well as everyone else.” Fernando tells them. “Now, if there is anything else, rest up and prepare. Tomorrow evening we leave for Flight Town, which is 150 miles away. I need to charge up my batteries.”
 
“Alright let’s go.” The first Jeanette say while the other one is saying “But... but... but...” as she is lead away.
 
“Thank god those two are gone.” Hondo says to himself.
 
Karl and Marvin walks in with Maribelle, La La and Li Li behind them. Karl asks, “Can we eat here?”
 
“I’ll get the chairs.” Fernando says as he goes to his Dub box trailer.
 
Hondo goes set up the lift table on the side of his truck. Fernando returns with some chairs and a folding table. He hands out the chairs and sets the folding table beside the Dub Box camper. After he sets up the table and 2 chairs with it, he goes to Hondo’s camper. Hondo follows him. Fernando knocks on the door and it opens, revealing Ruth.
 
“How can I help you?” Ruth asks.
 
“I’m going to need a bagged lunch for two and a coffee for me, please.” Fernando says to him.
 
“I’ll get that done for you, sir. Anything else?” Ruth says and asks.
 
Hondo steps in, “I’ll take a bagged lunch for one. And the wessens will be here soon as they are done setting their table.”
 
“Good, and thank you for letting me know. I’ll get that done for you in a bit.” Ruth says.
 
“Hondo, mind getting my lunch? In all this confusion I forgot to check on Meeshie’s food and water bowls. I’ll be back.” Fernando tells him before going to his camper to check on the cat.
 
Fernando enters from his side door and looks about the camper, finding his precious little furball asleep on the driver’s seat. He checks her food and water bowl, finding that they were not set up. He gathers her food bowl and opens a can, pouring the contents into it. He then fills her water bowl and places both in the space between the driver’s and passenger’s seat. Meeshie wakes up to the smell of food, stretches and then pounces on her meal. Fernando scritches her ear, “I’m sorry, girl for it is late. I did not know you were not fed.”
 
Meeshie just meows before continues to eat.
 
“Behave for me, OK Girl?” Fernando tells her.
 
Meeshie meows again.
 
“Good.” Fernando replies, adding, “I’ll see you later.”
 
Meeshie rubs her face against his ankle. Fernando scritches her ear again before he steps to the door and opens the door to leave. He steps out and slides the door closed. He walks to the back of the electric camper and steps over the hitch. Hondo was already there at the table with the lunches.
 
“Thank you.” Fernando tells Hondo, before he turns to the rear window of the electric camper, putting the key into its locking handle. With a twist, the rear window unlatches from the frame. Fernando pulls it up to its full height. “Ichigo, pull up to the window.”
 
Fernando goes to the table where Hondo is at and opens his bag, pulling out the lunch sandwiches and the soup, taking a set and putting it through the rear window. Ichigo takes and brings it deeper into the camper. A bottle of juice was next to be handed to her. He then sits down at the seat with Hondo at the table and lets out a sigh. He begins to take out the other sandwich, soup and soda. At this time Meeshie steps up to the window and meows for my attention. I get up to the window and pick her up and put her on my lap. She hops off and trots off to some area behind the camper parking area.
 
“Where is she going?” Hondo asks.
 
“More than likely, Kitty bathroom.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Oh...” Hondo replies before laughing out loud.
 
“Meeshie should be teaching Kitty outdoor bathroom usage. But that is on you.” Fernando tells him.
 
“We’ll see that happens.” Hondo replies.
 
Meeshie comes back and jumps onto Fernando’s leg and continues climbing onto his lap. Fernando pets her before picking her up and takes her to the window and putting her into the camper. He sits back down and continues with his lunch.
 
“So what is on the agenda for today?” Fernando asks.
 
“I’ll be checking the vehicles for what they may need.” Hondo point out.
 
“Save yourself the headache. Except for your vehicles, everyone’s vehicles are practically new – rebuilt. If anything you should check on their tires and see if they need replacing, but I do not think they do. But after our run through ‘No Man’s Land’ we are going to need check-ups and tune ups. I’ll see about getting us some oil and filters for our rides. You do as you think you need to do. We work together on this.”
 
Hondo nods as he sips his drink.
 
“Let’s take this as a day of rest and recharge our batteries in more ways than one. We leave tomorrow late afternoon. Hopefully we will get to Flight Town tomorrow night.” Fernando points out.

After Hondo goes inside his camper, Fernando closes the rear window hatchway on his camper, locking it in place. He steps over the towing hitch and then on towards the side sliding door, allowing himself to enter. He closes the door and locks it. He sees Ichigo has not put on anything, nor has gotten out of the bed.  He wants rest but he doubts he will get it.
 
He take off his outer layers and remains in his briefs before crawling under the blankets. He lies there staring at the ceiling above them. At least Ichigo has calmed down enough to stop crying but not enough to deal with the situation. After a while she crawls up to him and climbs onto him, facing him while straddling her legs around his. She lay down and rests her head on his chest, putting her arms about him like a little girl holding a giant teddy bear. It remains silent for a couple minutes before she asks him questions.
 
“Fernando... make love to me, please?” She asks of him.
 
“No.” He tells her.
 
“Why not?” She asks.
 
“Making love to you means having an emotional attachment that is not there between us – for one.” He explains.
 
“Then just #$@! me.” She tells him.
 
“Again, no.” He says.
 
“Why not?” She asks.
 
“Not interested.” He says to her.
 
“Not interested? I can feel your hardness between us!” She points out.
 
“Just because I’m hard does not mean I’m interested.” He tells her.
 
“But...” She tries to begin.
 
“No Buts.” He says to her. After a brief pause he continues, “Look. It is not about you or me. It is about us. You’re my slave, big deal. But does a master put his slave through such sexual endeavors, through such emotional connections? Why not become my wife then? But I am not seeking a wife, or a girlfriend to have such relations with. Nor do I want to be serviced by you or anyone else. I just want to lay here and rest.”
 
“But what about what you said about after winning the fight that you would put me over my desk and do me lovely on it from behind? This is not my desk but here I am, waiting for you to take me and do me lovely as you planned.” She explains.
 
“Be honest with me – whether I make love to you, #$@!ed your brains out or held you down and had my way with you, do you 1) receive any emotional gratification from it, 2) get something you want, and 3) care about me and my need or of just that of you and your own needs?” He asks.
 
Ichigo lays there, tracing out the muscles of his chest with a finger as she thinks and then finally answering, “I am not going to lie to you and say that I would finally get something I have been wanting for a very long time, even if there was no emotional attachment to it because to me it would seem like it would be attached to something, it would be attached to my emotions within me. And as such I hope it would be the same for you.” She pauses for a second before she continues, “Back in Fight Town, getting sex was easy, giving sex was easier. One can go out and pick and choose who they wanted from what was available and what benefits one could derive from it. But to be at the level I was, such opportunities were available for the taking but I never took it during that time. Before then, I did what I had to do in order to survive.” She then pauses to think for a while before continuing, “The last time I saw you, I was a bunny girl. And we spend two hours in your locker room before you fought the Lich long ago. At the time you did not wanted me to service you but it happened, you and I on the locker room’s bench where you proceeded to rock my little world for the next hour or so. In that I made you promise me not to lose the fight against the Lich and that for you to take me away from this madness. Instead you said that you would be back – different but back and in that things would be better for me until you came back when things would fall apart again. And in when we would meet again, you would accept me though things would be rough between us at first because you would not remember me. And then we kissed one last time before you went into that ring and proceeded to beat the Lich’s ass. But because you won, like it did these past days ago, Fight Town rioted. My Event Manager was hunted down and killed, with many saying that the fight was rigged. Too many bet on the Lich and lost. I bet on you and I won. Then I became Event Manager like you said as if it was planned. 10 years later, same thing happens again, you fought the Lich and you won, Fight Town rioted and went after me to kill me as I was the Event Manager. But this time you were there to save me. So here we are. Here I am... scared but knowing that you would do what must be done to save me. And I would do for you as your slave, waifu, girlfriend... whatever. I am yours: mind, soul and body. Take me... please.”
 
A long moment of silence passes.
 
“If I told you that things would be rough when we meet again because I do not remember you, then take that to heart. To you things would be a continuation of things and happenings while for me it would not. I do not care about the past because to me the past does not exist, not in the sense it does for you. If things are to get better between us then you better understand that things are going to be rough for us before they get better. In all that, I am not making demands. But until then, there is a lot to do and you cannot do me wrong in what I demand of you to do because things will get worse between us if you don’t.” He tells her.
 
Ichigo nods against his chest.
 
More than a couple minutes have passed when she asks, “Fernando, hold me, please.”
 
Fernando lets out something between a grunt and a sigh before putting his hand onto her tiny waist. Ichigo lies there trying to keep herself together. After about a half hour Fernando slaps her on her ass.
 
“Ow!” Not even 24 hours and you are already abusing me?” Ichigo complains.
 
“I’ll do more than abuse you. Now I need you to get dressed. We’re heading out and do some exploring.” He tells her.
 
“And if I do not want to go out?” She asks.
 
“Then I’ll deal with you later.” He tells her.
 
“I thought you were going to say that I was going to suck your dick or lay there while you force me to have your babies.” She replies.
 
“Don’t you wish.” He tells her. “One day you will get your wish, but not today or any time soon. Now get dressed.”
 
“I refuse.” She tells him.
 
“I will dare ask ‘why?’” He asks.
 
“Because there are people out there who want me dead.” Ichigo tells him.
 
“Even in the Indian Village? They won because we won.” Fernando tells her.
 
“I am worth more to them dead or alive in reward money than what they won in the fight’s bet.” She tells him.
 
“And you do not trust me in being able to protect you.” He tells her.
 
“I do.” She begins, “It’s that Hondo scared me to the core with the truth.”
 
“And? You went and open a door without checking, without peeking through the curtains to see who it was. You deserve what you got. You deserve what you got because you got sloppy, thought it was safe. What if the camp was under attack? What if it was a lone assassin out to get you? You need to be on the ball 24/7 because you cannot defend yourself. And I cannot defend you alone, which is why I have the camp willing to save your butt when called into action. But you need to put in what you take from it. You want protection, you need to work for it. And giving me that elementary school ass of yours is not working for it.” He tells her outright.  
 
Ichigo does not say a word in reply or comment.
 
Fernando throws at her, “If you think I and those in this camp cannot protect you, you can pack up your things and walk away. I’ll even let you have my pull cart to make it easier for you to leave. It is that simple.”
 
She looks at him, “NOOOoooo!”
 
“Then you need to do as I tell you and not bitch about it.” Fernando tells her.
 
Ichigo dejectedly sighs, “I will... but I need a couple days before I can step out.”
 
“Then get up and get dressed. There things to do and you to learn.” He tells her.
 
“Like what?” She asks.
 
“I taught you all there is to know about inside this camper expect for driving it. Now it’s time to learn the rest.” He tells her.
 
Though Ichigo had less to put on, Fernando had put on his clothes faster than she did. He steps out of the camper first and waits for her outside. She steps out a couple minutes behind him. He shakes his head, not understanding or not wanting to understand why there was a delay. Once she was outside, he slowly closes the door behind them and leads her to the back of the electric camper and shows her a set of keys.
 
“These keys unlock the rear passenger door panel and the engine bay.” He begins to tell her, “The key into this t-handle for the passenger door and twist the key and then the handle to open it. The engine bay you twist the key, take it out and grab the handle, pressing the button before lifting it up.” He demonstrates how the locks work on each door and leaves them open. He then points out the inside components, “This is an electric vehicle. That large round cylinder is the electric motor mounted to the transmission. There are four battery packs throughout the bus that powers the motor and other electrical devices. On the roof are 3 solar panels to create electricity to charge up the batteries during the day. This big caged box on the left side is a gas powered generator to also charge up the batteries and run other electrical devices in the camper; I use it when I am running at night to power the lights as to not run down the batteries. These four smaller boxes are gasoline jugs to store gasoline for the generator; each on is five gallons each. In case of an emergency, I will give out the gas from these jugs to those who need it. All these electrical devices are connected to a switching panel in the front at the driver’s side. Any questions?”
 
“No, not really.” Ichigo replies.
 
“If you say not really, then you have a question.” Fernando point out.
 
“The only question I have is why do you have an electric camper and everyone has a gas powered vehicle?” Ichigo asks.
 
“Simple. This mission was to be between Jeanette and I, and the intention was in case she ran out of gasoline, I would go fourth and get fuel for her and if needed, tow her vehicle behind mine. But over the following days we met up with my old friend Hondo and the others and the convoy grew, so the need for the electric camper to rescue gas camper became a moot point.” Fernando explains.
 
“I see.” She replies.
 
“It’s not perfect but it works well enough to keep up with the others for the most part while being the lightest vehicle in the group.” He explains before grabbing a thick cable from the back the bus that connects to the Dub Box Camper. “This cable connects the electric camper with the camper trailer.” He says as he closes the locks up the rear of the electric camper.
 
Fernando gets up and heads to the Dub Box camper, unlocking and opening the door. He lets her to go in first and follows her inside, closing the door behind them. She stands around and looks about inside. He steps to the middle the camper and pushes up in its ceiling, extending the roof upwards another foot and a half. With the added height, he can stand up taller and not hunched over inside the dub box. He then steps over to the kitchen area.
 
He points out to the front of the camper to the large bay window that is there, pointing out the various things in the area, “The top cabinets have some dry goods like instant soup and cereal.” He lifts off the cover off the shelf area, “This shelf is a sink and a two burner stove. The stove uses propane or butane, and there are a couple large bottles of propane in the lower shelf.  The faucet folds into the sink to cover it. Ruth has used this kitchen area a couple of times and does so with my permission when needed. So if you see her in here, there is no problem about her being here. She cleans up after herself when she uses it and informs me of what may be needed when it is needed.” He then covers the stove and sink, and then points to the larger upper shelves on the left hand wall. “Here we have more food things, mostly canned food though there are few dry foods and powdered juices. Between the electric camper and this Dub Box camper there is enough food for about four days for the four of us.”
 
“Four of us?” Ichigo interrupts.
 
“You, Macey, me and Meeshie.” He tells her.
 
“But the cat can go catch mice and eat them.” Ichigo throws at him.
 
“You want to eat mice? I would not let her. She is not feral animal and can get sick if she caught a sick mouse to eat. So she eats what I have for her included in our supplies.” Fernando tells her. He adds, “She can catch mice and keep the campers rodent free but she won’t eat them because I trained her not to eat them.” Pausing for a second, he continues, “This last shelf is where plates, cups and bowls are kept, along with a couple pots and pans. Forks, spoons, knives and cooking utensils are in this sliding drawer on this lower shelf under the plates and things. The other drawers are some basic tools I need to work on the campers when needed. Now for the lower cabinets, any question before we go on?”
 
“No questions so far.” She replies.
 
“Good, now for the lower cabinets.” He begins as he opens the doors on the cabinets below the sink and stove. “On the extreme right are four more jugs of gasoline. They are for the generator the Dub Box has in the outside storage area which I will show later. But it is the same generator as in the electric camper. Next to it is two propane tanks for the stove, and a box of smaller propane bottles I use for the heater that I showed you the last time. But they are not safe use without supervising them. But I also have an outdoor camper stove that also uses the small propane bottles as well, so they are still useful. I’ll show you the outdoor camper stove later as it is with the generator outside. This center section is for the water heater and grey water tank for the sink. There is a 40 gallon water tank under the Dub Box. Next to that at the corner are more canned and dry foods. Going to the left hand side wall, the lower cabinets has more food, with that second to last cabinet being a small refrigerator. I keep what raw meats and eggs we have in there. The last cabinet is empty for now. Any questions?”
 
“So most of the food is in here?” She asks.
 
“Unfortunately yes.” He says as closes up the cabinets. He then sits on the bench closest to the door before pulling Ichigo towards him and turn her around, pointing to a box next to the cabinet. “That is the bathroom.”
 
“Bathroom?” She asks.
 
He guides her away from him and steps to the box, opening it. The top folds up first and then the front opens up like a door, revealing a toilet inside. On the door was a hanging roll of toilet paper. “It is just a toilet but it is a compost toilet, so it needs to be emptied out every couple weeks when it is near full. I will show you how to do it when it is time to do it. But it is there when we need it though I prefer to use it as little as possible. To open it to use it, the top lifts up first and then the door swings open. To close it, the door swing in first and then the top down onto it.” He demonstrates closing it.
 
“If that is the toilet, is there a shower or bath?” She asks.
 
Fernando points to the rear door, “It is like the electric camper as it also has an outdoor shower with a tent to go in. it has its own separate water tank that hold about 30 gallons of water, and a separate water heater but it takes a long time for it to heat up water. A few days ago before going into Fight Town it got so cold that all of my water tanks froze and I had to use Hondo’s water supply that day. Macey is welcomed to use Hondo’s bathroom facilities. You need to ask him for permission to use it. Any water you use you have to replace in the end of the day or when he says it is needed to be replaced.”
 
He then sits on the bench by the bathroom box, pointing to the bench across the camper where he sat before.
 
“That is electronic controller for this Camper Trailer...” He walks over to it and lifts up the seat cushions. Lifting the small cushion shows a recessed box with a couple display panels and switches on it, as well as a CB Radio, a 2meter/73cm radio (with microphones for both) and am/fm/cassette stereo radio. “Two way radio communications, and switches for what options I need, including sending power from Dub Box to the Electrical camper.” He opens the larger of the two cushions, and a couple door covers inside before pulling out a M1 Garand Rifle. He reaches out to Ichigo, handing the rifle to her. “Here is where the fire arms, bullets, tools and cleaning kits are kept for safe storage. There are six rifles, a dozen or so hand guns of larger calibers and about 20 or so small boot guns.” He picks up one of the smaller boot guns with its holster and hands it to her. She takes it and looks at it. “I may allow you to carry something to protect yourself with after Hondo trains you on using it.”
 


 
“I know how to use a gun.” Ichigo says to him.
 
“I want to make sure that you can with some extra training. It would be better that you do.” Fernando tells her in kind. “Then you can have one of these.” He gives her a larger .32 pistol to look over while taking the rifle off her grasp, placing is back in the storage place.

 
He finds a .22 inside a belt buckle, wondering when he got it. For now he puts it on the side before getting the two guns from Ichigo to put away. He then closes the bench and sits on it.
 

 
“There are also some fishing and camping gear in there.” He explains. Taking Ichigo by her waist, he guides her to sit on the bench beside him. He points out, “The bench next to us has six sleeping bags and blankets. There are also these thick furniture cover blankets that I use as a mattress thickener and floor separator so anyone needing to sleep on the floor has some padding for them to sleep on and not on the cold floor. The last bench by the corner has pillows. Now looking across to the bench by the toilet, that has toilet paper and paper towels. The next bench has more blankets, more camping gear, and cleaning products – soaps, detergent, etc. The last corner bench has a folded thin mattress, second table top and a couple short support beams. The top of the table comes off the support and the support comes off the floor. There are two holes on the floors for the short supports. Put in a short support, flip the table to the other direction and put it against the ends of the benches to make a bed. Do the same with the other table top and short support and this whole bench section becomes a large bed. With the padding and mattresses, you and four others can sleep comfortably on it. That is it for the inside.”
 
“What about the back bench?” She asks.
 
Fernando gets up and walks to the back, taking the table top off from the support it was on. He then signals her to go with him. As she walks to him, he lifts up the rear window door like the on the electric camper. He lifts up the cushion on the bench revealing the metal base, on the metal base was two round corner locking covers. Ichigo looks at metal area.
 
Fernando begins to explain as he opens each panel, “Outside on the sides are lift-up doors with locks. This one (on the door side of the trailer) is where the generator is at. There is also a hydraulic bottle jack, a tire iron, a spare tire and the two burner camping stove that I talked about before. The other side is empty but since it is sealed, I will keep clothing we are not using in there.” He pauses for a second before he continues as he points to the raised doorway, “A shower tent comes down around from above the door. There is a panel outside that opens, and you can pull out the shower head and hose. There are water dials for hot and cold water but again, it takes a long time for hot water to be heated up.”
 
Ichigo nods. Fernando closes up the covers and locks them, he then puts the bench cushion onto the metal shelf restoring its seating function. The rear window is closed and locked quickly after.
 
“The front window also opens and closes in the same way. Any questions?” He says and asks.
 
“None.” She tells him.
 
“Good. Then let’s go outside.” As he pulls down the pop-up roof before he leads the way out.
 
She follows him outside; he leaves the door open while they were out. They head to the rear of the camper trailer. He points out the door to the generator before opening it, showing the generator inside. He points up to show the locked panel. The door is closed and the other compartment is shown with the same results: an empty compartment with its upper hatch is closed and locked. The door to the compartment closes and locks itself into place, appearing as it if it was one piece with the wall. He then steps back to the rear to show off the hatch for the shower hose and water valves.
 
After closing up and locking the open hatches and finally the door, Fernando goes to the front of the Dub Box where a large steel locked box was against the trailer wall on the trailer’s towing tongue. He unlocks it and opens it, showing that it was empty. It was big enough to put her inside and close it shut closed.
 
“What is this for?” Ichigo asks.
 
“More storage, usually for hardware but all that is inside of either camper. I could put anything I need in here but some idiot could try to break in and steal what’s inside. Maybe more blankets, sleeping bags and dry and canned foods, maybe a tent, maybe. I have not decided yet.” Fernando explains. “Any questions?” He asks as he closes and locks the empty storage box.
 
“No...” She replies.
 
“Good. Let’s go back inside.”  He tells her.
 
Ichigo goes to the sliding door on the electric camper. She gets the door open before stepping inside. Fernando closes the sliding door, locking it and then enters through passenger side. He sits on the passenger seat and looks over the electrical panel on the driver’s side. The solar panels seem to be charging the batteries in the engine bay as it is set up to do so, and there was enough of a reserve charge in the other batteries to make the trip to Flight Town.
 
Once he sees that things are in order, he turns around on the seat and steps through to the rear of the camper from between the gap in the seats. He sees that Ichigo has sat herself on the bed. He sits on the bench part of the bed with nothing to think or do. For the first time being in this hell hole of a situation, he is absolutely bored.

“Well, if I do not have to go back out, I might as well strip down to my underwear and crawl under the blankets unless you want to get busy with me.” Ichigo tells him.
 
“Eh? Get busy?” Fernando replies.
 
Ichigo sighs before she explains, “Get busy – you know, have sex with me.”
 
“What is it with you wanting to have sex with me? I swear.” Fernando lets out.
 
“A girl gotta have it every once in a while, you know... And you yourself said that you would do me lovely after you win your match with the Lich and long ago you told me that we would be screwing again.” She tells him.
 
“Well, now is not the time and we will be stepping out again soon enough. Now cut it out and start acting like a descent person. This is not about sex all the time, it is about our survival and making sure we get to where we need to go. And right now I need to think out a few problems.” He tells her.
 
There is a knock on the sliding door. Fernando looks at Ichigo before going sliding door, looks through the gap in the curtains and partially opens the door. Maggie stands there.
 
“Need help with something?” Fernando asks.
 
“Can I come in? I need to talk with you.” Maggie replies.
 
Fernando steps away from the door and allowed Maggie to come in. Once she is in, he closes and locks the door behind her before taking his seat on the bed. He then points to the folded jumps seat behind the front passenger seat for Maggie to open up and sit down on. She sees Ichigo sitting on the bed and looking quite frustrated.
 
“Oh... I hope I was not interrupting your time together.” Maggie lets out.
 
“Gee, what give you that idea...” Ichigo lets out under her breathe.
 
“Miss Morino, cut it out.” Fernando tells her. He then turns to Maggie, “What’s the problem?”
 
“I’m going to need a place to sleep, as I do not want to stress Hondo any further. I sense that he is upset...” Maggie explains.
 
“Never mind that. I can fit you in here, but you would have to sleep on the floor as there is no room on the bed for another person. But I will get you those things to make you comfortable: padding to sleep in the floor, sleeping bag and blanket to keep you warm, and a pillow for your head.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Uhm... What about the trailer behind the bus?” Maggie asks.
 
“That is for medical emergencies and injured convoy members. There is no room in there for sleepovers unless it is absolutely necessary.” Fernando explains.
 
“I see.” Maggie says.
 
“Look, until other options are found for you, you are welcomed to stay here. Take it or leave it.” Fernando tells her. But he adds, “Nobody stays here for free. There is a price to be paid and everyone has a job to do if they want to be part of this convoy.”
 
“Uhm...” Maggie wants to say something but does not or can’t.
 
“Did you get anything to eat for Breakfast?” Fernando asks. Maggie nods. He continues, “What about lunch?” He asks. She nods some more. He continues, “Then dinner is coming soon but that is not problem. We will figure out what you can do tomorrow.”
 
He turns to Ichigo, “Get Maggie a sleeping bag, pillow and blanket from the storage container, she will be sleeping here tonight and the next couple nights. I have to check the Dub Box for some blanket padding for her to sleep on.” He then turns to Maggie, “We go to bed at 10:30 or so. I have to check with the night time security before I go to bed.”
 
“So it is just you and her?” Maggie asks.
 
“I wish...” Ichigo silently complains.
 
“No it is not. It is her, my daughter Macey, my cat and myself on that bed. Unless I add another bed to this, there is not enough room for another person.” He tells her. He then steps to the sliding door, opens it and steps out, closing the door and heading to the Dub Box camper. He finds a furniture blanket he can use for Maggie and brings it back to the camper. He hands her the blanket, “That is for you to put on the floor to give you padding and insulation from the cold metal floor. Fold it in half and lay it flat.”
 
Ichigo gets a pillow, blanket and sleeping bag from the storage area under the bench seat. She hands them over to Maggie.
 
Maggie holds the items close to her, “Uhm... Thanks...”
 
“Don’t thank me yet. You will have to pay for what you take and use here.” Fernando tells her. He then steps to the door, “I have to step out and talk with Hondo and check on the others. I’ll be back soon.”
 
Hondo was outside on the chair he had been sitting on earlier and laid the tailgate on the bronco down to use as a worktable once again as he returned to his earlier task of checking and cleaning his firearms used night before. Fernando finds him and approaches him.
 
“How’s things?” Fernando asks.
 
“They are what they are.” Hondo says without looking up.
 
“How about you?” Fernando asks.
 
“I’m dealin’ with it.” Hondo throws at him.
 
“Not to get on your business, but is there an issue with Raccoon Wessen Girl?” Fernando asks.
 
Hondo puts his work down for a second and looks at him, “What you gittin’ at?”
 
“If there is a problem, I would like to know. Now, not point fingers at you or blaming you for anything, Maggie feels uncomfortable around you. Don’t know why, don’t care for why either. But for me I want peace among us all. That is all.” Fernando tells him.
 
“How do you think I feel? She brought Val in messed up condition. You seen her, you healed her. How could she live with herself allowing what happen to Val, or to anyone else?” Hondo gives Fernando a piece of his mind.
 
“I’m not here to defend anyone, as you would be the only one I defend if needed. But she did bring Val home. That should count for something.” Fernando tells him. He adds, “Anyways, until I can figure something out, she will be with me.”
 
“Eh...” Hondo replies as he goes back to working on his task.
 
“Seen Macey around?” Fernando asks.
 
“She and Zoe are with Ruth, learning how to cook as they prepare dinner in her camper.” Hondo points out.
 
“A bit early for making dinner, but as long as they are learning... Thanks.” Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo looks up at him.
 
“Later after dinner, I will want a driver’s meeting. I want us to move out in the morning. That should get us into Flight Town by early afternoon.” Fernando explains.
 
“Alrigh’.” Hondo replies he continues to do his work.
 
Fernando looks about. Nothing much is going on. Karl and Marvin were standing about, discussing about their vehicles and their plans as they walked their rounds. A couple of the teens were also doing their rounds. Maribelle was getting Teri, La La and Li Li together to begin their work in dinner preparation. Ruth had Macey and Zoe come out to the preparation area, which Ruth had to set up. Teri, La La and Li Li took to their seats.
 
Meanwhile in the electric camper...
 
“I do not want to owe him or anybody anything.” Maggie says.
 
“Like he said, nobody rides for free.” Ichigo throws at her.
 
“But... Ok...” Maggie begins to say in thinking. She finally says, “How can I pay him back?”
 
“If you’re female and you have not figured it out already...” Ichigo throws a hint at her.
 
“What do you mean?” Maggie asks.
 
“Sex and getting your pussy stuffed as often as possible.” Ichigo says, adding as she crawls to her on the bed, “That is if you are female. Fernando does not like guys and is very anti-homo.” She hops off the bed and steps over to Maggie, putting her hand up Maggie’s skirt and cupping her groin. “Looks like you’re female. There should be no problem in offering him a payment plan.” As she removes her hand from under Maggie’s skirt. She steps to the sink and washes her hand, drying them on a nearby rarely used dish towel before she goes back into the bed.
 
“I’m not that type of girl...” Maggie lets out.
 
“Ha! A Wessen like you? I bet that hole between your legs has been stuffed many times and as often as possible.” Ichigo tells her.
 
“I won’t deny that such things happened, but they were forced on me, along with beatings. I’m not proud in what happened but what is a girl to do?” Maggie explains.
 
“A girl has to what a girl has to do. If it meaning using her body to pay the price of putting food into her belly and having a warm place to sleep in, she will do those things without shame.” Ichigo tells her.
 
“I thought I had escaped all that.” Maggie says as tears begin to flow.
 
“It’s a man’s world out there. They rule. We do what we can in order to live within those rules and hope not to get harmed by them. But we are their weakness. They do for us, from working hard to fighting each other and starting wars. From what I hear, the whole Chaos started because of men fighting for a woman.” Ichigo tells her. She then throws in, “From the looks of it to me, you have a couple days before he starts to demand payment from you where you are going to have to bend over and give up your ass and pussy.”
 
Maggie was in tears though she tries to hold them back as much as possible. She is heard saying to herself “I can’t go through that again...”
 
“If it weren’t for your interruption, he would be plowing my ass right now. So I owe you... But I do not know how long I can protect you from him.” Ichigo tells her.
 
“I don’t know how to pay you back...” Maggie states, “I do not know who you are. How old are you?”
 
“I just turned 12, but he bought me from some slaver’s auction as his ‘bed warmer.’  His ‘daughter’ is another girl he picked up from some whore house as his first bed warmer. She’s also 12 I think. How old are you?” Ichigo tells her.
 
“I’m 25 or so.” Maggie says.
 
“Or so?” Ichigo asks.
 
“I stopped counting when I was 21 and was sold in auction, that was about 4 years ago.” Maggie says.
 
“I see.” Ichigo says.
 
“How you ended up on auction? You seem like a very intelligent girl.” Maggie asks and points out.
 
“My family got purged and those of us who were not killed were sold into auction.” Ichigo answers.
 
“It does not answer why you are so smart.” Maggie says.
 
“My father was a school master and my mother was a teacher.” Ichigo lies.
 
“Oh...” Maggie replies. She then looks up to her, “How about we plan for an escape? We can include What’s her name? May-Cee?”
 
“It’s not good to do that. Last person who tried to escape he shot dead.” Ichigo tries to instill fear in her.
 
Maggie looks about and finds a small frying pan in a cabinet, “I think I can use this to take care of him.”
 
“Don’t. If you fail, he would shoot you too.” Ichigo tells her.
 
“I can do this, I did just so when I escaped and brought that lady over here.” Maggie says. She then says, “I do not believe this because I thought I was going to get a big reward for bringing her back. So far I got nothing I was told I would have gotten.”
 
“Where did you hear there was a reward for her?” Ichigo asks.
 
“Back at the lab where she was being kept at. But to my slave masters, she was worth more to them than the reward was.” Maggie explains.  
 
They can hear Fernando outside the electric camper, Meeshie gets up and props herself under the curtain of the passenger side door window. Not seeing the cat’s actions, Maggie props herself against the passenger seat by the sliding door with the frying pan over her head.
 
Fernando can see Meeshie, speaking in their little known Kitty Sign language and he nods to her. She climbs back into the passenger seat.
 
From outside the camper Fernando can he heard saying, “I need to check on a couple things first!” The sliding door opens and it looks like Fernando leans his head into the doorway. In fact it was him holding his hat and glasses in through the doorway.
 
Maggie swings the frying pan on what seems to be his head, knocking the hat and frying pan from his hand with a loud crash of the swinging frying pan on the floor. As Ichigo and Maggie try to inspect what had happened as they find a hat and a pair of broken glasses on the camper floor, Fernando reaches in and pulls Maggie out by her neck and pins her by the door frame and putting his 1911A2M2 to her forehead.
 
Without his eyewear, she can see the flames of Hell burning in his eyes, “You better have a good reason why you would attack me!” Fernando growls at her. Hondo and the others gather quickly around the electric camper.
 
“What’s goin’ on...” Hondo says as he runs up to them drawing his gun out.
 
In a couple of seconds, both Jeanettes come to investigate.
 
“Don’t!” Ichigo says out loud as she steps out. “It’s my fault...”
 
“Go get your things and leave.” Fernando tells Ichigo without looking at her. He then swings Maggie off the door frame and body slams her to the ground.
 
“I’m not leaving.” Ichigo says to him.
 
“You dare plan to do me harm and then have her act on doing it. Neither of you belong here. When I return you both better be gone.” Fernando begins to walk away, disappearing in a flash of light.
 
Hondo shakes his head before he starts ordering everybody, “Go back to doin’ yo business. There is nothing to see here.” As everyone begins to leave, he steps up to the camper’s sliding door and looks at Ichigo, “You heard the man. Pack your things and go. You’re not wanted here no more.”
 
One of the Jeanettes speak up for them, “Hondo, don’t.”
 
“And who are either of you to say anythin’? You have said nothin’, you have done nothin’, all this is Jefe’s work. And now these two just tried to harm him in a big way? For what? They’re plannin’ on robbin’ him and even us? Anyone who makes themselves a danger to us is not allowed to remain with us. Anyone who tries to harm any of us, needs to leave. They’re both lucky he did not shoot first and asked questions later.” Hondo growls at them.
 
“What about forgive and forget?” The other Jeanette says.
 
“You do not forgive one who tries to take your life and you do not forget that they tried.” Hondo tells them. He then turns to Ichigo, “Hurry up and get your things or leave without them. You caused enough trouble here already.”
 
-= To Be Continued. =-

Fernando does not return until a couple hours later. During that time he was on the mountain tops looking over the area. The branches of the highway look clear to the next towns, and the couple abandoned towns along the way show that they were seemingly empty. For him that was good in that they could leave tonight or tomorrow morning and not have to worry about road gangs on their way to the next town.
 
Fernando walks back to his electric camper. He opens the sliding door, finding it empty.
 
“They are with the Bobbsy Twins.” Hondo says from the rear corner of the electric camper.
 
“Don’t care.” Fernando replies.
 
“They are tryin’ to insure that they would not get kicked out.” Hondo states.
 
“Again, don’t care.” Fernando replies.
 
“Then I’ll leave you alone for a while. Dinner should be ready soon, I’ll see you then.” Hondo states.
 
“Alright. I’ll see you then.” Fernando says before stepping into the camper. The side door slowly slides closed.
 
In a couple of minutes, there is a knocking on the side door. Knowing it is not Hondo, Fernando ignores it. He does not care who it is. Val and Ruth know that he prefers to be served last when everyone received their share of food first, so it could not be them.
 
 
A few minutes later at Jeanette’s ambulance/gas camper.
 
“There was no answer at Fernando’s camper.” One Jeanette says to the other.
 
“I’ll talk with him later then.” The other Jeanette replies.
 
“Well, dinner is ready. I’ll make sure our other guest gets fed first.” The first Jeanette says.
 
“You go do that. I’ll be with this one.” The other Jeanette tells her before ranting to herself, “Damn, I never seen injuries like this outside of a car accident. How hard did he throw her?”