"So, let's use them," Roark said. "Maybe it'll help us figure out who made them."
Stefan already knew who made them.
He climbed through the opening and started after Sam, who was walking toward the far wall. He noticed footprints several times as they went from building to building, but they were always right where the openings in the wall were located. Nowhere else.
When they reached the last wall that had been broken through, Stefan started searching the floor again for any signs of disturbance. "Whoever made these holes must have used the stairs to get out of this building. There's no other exits."
"So, we head up," Roark said. "Maybe we'll find something upstairs."
They didn't.
"The only signs someone was even here are down in the basement," Stefan said. "Do you suppose it's so silver fliers don't see whoever it is?"
"Anything is possible," Roark replied. "Until we know what we're working with, everyone needs to stay on their toes."
That was kind of a given nowadays. Stefan didn't think he'd spent a single second of the last ten years not being alert and on his toes. It was a matter of survival.
They didn't find anything on the first floor or outside in front of the building. The longer they searched, the more Stefan's hope began to wither. He'd been so positive he'd seen Sawyer, but maybe his mind was playing tricks on him.
"I guess we should head to Colorado Springs, Commander." Stefan finally admitted defeat. "We're not going to find anything here."
"We'll be back up this way at some point, Stefan. We'll keep looking."
Roark's words didn't make Stefan feel any better, but it was nice of him to say them. "Thank you, Commander."
Roark grabbed Frankie's arm then headed for the door. "Let's head out."
Stefan took one more glance around then followed after them, his heart sinking even lower. For a brief moment in time, he'd had hope that he'd find Sawyer. Now he was back to wondering if the man was dead.
Colorado Springs was approximately seventy miles from Denver by car. It was a little shorter if going in a straight line, but not much. When they reached the suburbs of Denver where they'd hidden their horses, things moved quicker.
Roark swung up on his horse, Bessie, then looked at everyone. "We'll stop at the Castle Rock settlement for the night before heading on to Colorado Springs first thing in the morning, but we're going to be riding hard until then. I want to get as far from Denver as we can."
Stefan frowned. "You expecting trouble, Commander?"
"I'm always expecting trouble, but I'm a little concerned about those mechs that were taken out. I don't want to be in the area if more come looking for them. Someone took out a scorpion. The mechs will be looking for whoever did it."
Yeah, they were going to be pissed. The mechs didn't make too much of a fuss if a scarab or spider were taken out, but they got pissed if one of their fighter mechs got destroyed.
Once they were out of Denver, the highway opened up pretty well. They still had the occasional car to go around, but it was open road for the most part. Of course, they had to keep an eye out for any mechs.
By the time they reached the settlement in Castle Rock, Stefan knew stopping for the night was a good idea. They were all tired, and the horses could use a rest, as well.
They slowed to a stop when they got to the boundary line. They didn't have long to wait. A group of men on horseback came riding up. Stefan didn't miss the fact that they were armed, but he wasn't fazed by it. These days, everyone was armed.
The lead guy on horseback raised his gun and pointed it at them. "State your name and your business."
"Boy," Roark snapped as he maneuvered his horse, putting himself between the gun and Frankie. "You better plan on using that gun because I'm gonna beat you with if you don't point it somewhere else in the next five seconds."
"State your name and your business," the guy repeated, "or I'm gonna shoot."
Roark growled.
Stefan gripped his rifle, ready to shoot the guy if Roark gave him the word. He could see the others pulling their guns, as well.
This was not going to end well.
"Terry, you moron," another horseman shouted as he rode up. "Are you hoping to die? That's Commander Roark." The guy rolled his eyes as he came to a stop in front of Roark before nodding toward the guy with the gun. "He's new."
