Plight of the Senecan Preppers; Part Two

The alarms hadn't triggered, but the bunker had shaken due to the Ghost falling through a corridors' roof. 

"Mr. Bucketts, what do you think that was?" Asked one of the Senecans. 

"Probably a nuke..... EVERYONE! Nukes falling doesn't clear you of your debt to me! Get back to work!" Demanded the Billionaire. The Senecans were practically indebted to Mr. Bucketts. The way he saw it, he saved them from their deaths at the hands of the corrupt US Government, so they owed him their lives. 

However, this wasn't how the Ghost and his team saw it. As the others descended into the hole, they made their way into the bunker. According to Hoge, the bunker had a surveillance system that had never been fully finished. The only area that had a working camera was Mr. Bucketts' personal vault for all his valuables. The only way people knew what was happening was in-room intercoms. 

"Alright, who do we need to talk to?" The Ghost as Hoge as he put the jackhammers back in the armor's leg holsters. 

"We're looking for Tom Buchanan's daughter. Her name is Brittany, and she's the only one with just enough crazy to get the Senecans to stand by you and not their billionaire dictator."

The Ghost paused for a moment then looked at Hoge. "Then it's a good thing I know exactly who you're talking about."

"How?"

"Brittany and I are old friends. Now, enough talking, we've got Senecans to rescue."

As the Ghost and his contingent of the 451st Division moved deeper into the, an announcement over the P.A system stopped them in their tracks, fearing they'd been discovered. 

"Attention! Attention all bunker residents. It is time to say our daily thanks to our generous leader for allowing us to stay within his bunker. Report to the bunker gym immediately."

After the announcement ended, doors opened and Senecans began to make their way to the gym. The Ghost and his team were divided on either side of the corridor, far out of sight of the Senecans on their way to the Gym. As they were ready to keep moving, one last door opened. The Ghost peered around the corner to see Brittany closing her door. He signaled for the closest soldier to grab her. 

In a swift move, Daniel grabbed her and dragged her backwards. She panicked but after seeing Hoge, she calmed down. 

"Hoge? What the hell are you doing here and who are these people?"

Before the Marine could speak, the Ghost jumped in. 

"Who are we?" Now that's just harsh coming from the person who introduced me to emo-music."

Brittany turned to face the suit of armor. "Do I know you?"

The Ghost unsealed his helmet and took it off smiling. "I'm pretty sure you do."

Brittany jumped up and hugged the Ghost. 

"I can't believe you're here!"

"I know, I know, but keep it down. We can't get caught yet."

"Caught? Wait... That shaking... Was that you?" 

"Yep, we broke in and we're here to rescue you and the other Senecans."

"The door alarm never went off though."

"Who said we used the door?" Smiled the Ghost putting his helmet back on. Brittany grinned as she was set down by the Ghost. 

"Fuck yea. Let's go kick some ass." Said the short, goth girl as Hoge handed her a rifle. 

As they descended lower, Brittany explained that everyday, they were forced to thank their dictator for saving their lives. Nobody could leave until he said so, and he made sure of this by keeping the blast doors to the Gymnasium sealed during that time. 

As they all reached the doors, the soft murmur of various versions of thank yous could be heard very, very softly they were forced to say thank you using a microphone. 

"The door controls are only accessible from the interior and from Bucketts' vault. I'm not..."

Hoge stopped her for a moment and pointed to the Ghost in the bulky suit of armor. "It just so happens we have a universal keycode for the door."

"Oh? What is it?"

The Ghost grabbed the outer layers of metal on the door, pulling it just far enough apart so that his armored hands could feel fit in the seam of the blast doors. 

"Brute force." Said the Ghost as he pried the blast doors open, then ripped through the regular, bunker bulkhead door. Inside, the thank yous came to a halt as the bulkhead door crumpled apart like a soda can.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING THIS! Yelled Mr. Bucketts angrily. "I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS!" 

"This is what you'd call... Senecan Liberation!" Yelled Hoge, aiming his M16 at the billionaire's head.

 "You... You'd doom our safety!?" Bucketts cried out as the Ghost and Brittany entered the Gym. 

"Miss Buchanan, please tell me you're here to stop this moron."

"Well I am here to stop A MORON!" She laughed pointing the rifle she was given at him. "You say another word, and we'll see how fast billionaire's hit the ground."

Bucketts remained silent as the Ghost stepped up in front of Senecans. "Prepper of Seneca, I am known as the Ghost of Ottawa, leader of the New Ottawan Coalition that spans the Midwest and Great Plain States. This... tyrant, is no longer in charge of you. I, alone with the 451st Division of the New Ottawan Military, are here to rescue you." As the Ghost finished speaking, none of the Senecans moved, nor did they murmur. Bucketts laughed and looked at the Ghost. 

"You claim I'm no longer in-charge, but as you can see...."

A bullet rips past his head, stopping him mid-sentence. The fear in his eyes traces the bullet's path back to Brittany's rifle. She was clearly pissed, so he closed his mouth. Brittany had the Ghost kneel for a moment, so she could climb onto his shoulders. 

"WAKE THE FUCK UP!" She yelled into the microphone, causing the Senecans to snap out of their gloomy, emotionless states. "My friend, his men, and our marine have come to this godforsaken bunker to bust us out! WHAT ARE YOU STILL STANDING AROUND FOR?!"

The Senecans looked amongst themselves, then cheered. They rushed to the armory, cafeteria and vault gathering their belongings, supplies, and taking back what was stolen from them. 

"Y-You can't do this! I own this bunker!" Protested Bucketts. The Ghost turned around and leaned down to his level.

"I own the Midwest and the Plains. Seeing as this bunker is in Seneca, that's a village located within the Midwest... No, I own the bunker and today is eviction day. You'll be tried for extortion in Ottawa. Daniel, cuff this asshole, and tape his mouth shut." Ordered the Ghost. "His voice makes me want to kill something."

Once Bucketts was cuffed and the Senecans were ready, everyone made their way to the surface. Once the bunker's outer door opened, the Senecans loaded up into transport trucks. Daniel loaded Bucketts into his truck and began the trek down Route 6 back towards Ottawa. However, the Ghost and Brittany hopped off the tank they were on. 

"Sir?" Asked one of the tankers.

"Go on home. Brittany and I have one final stop to make." Said the Ghost, as he handed Brittany her bag. 

With a nod, the tanks resumed their journey down Morris Blacktop, leaving Brittany and the Ghost to make one final stop.