Stolen Liberties & Echoes of Freedom. Chapter 6 page 1

They were all together one last time, settling into the secluded farmhouse in North Texas. Outside, fields of crops stretched into the distance, creating a stark contrast to the interior stacked with satellite equipment, gear, and enough survivalist food to last for months. The house looked more like a bunker than a home, ready for anything.

Ben, the group’s philosopher-warrior, was the last to step in, carrying his rifle and enough ammo to hold off an army. His keen eyes surveyed the room as he took up a strategic position near the front door, scanning the surroundings as if he could see trouble brewing just over the horizon. He closed the door quietly behind him and noticed his friends scattered around the living room—most sitting on sofas and chairs, but Beth was lying on the floor beside Sgt. Pat.

Ben’s gaze lingered on Beth and Pat, an unusual couple if ever there was one. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Beth was meant to be with him, and a part of him wrestled with that old pang of jealousy. But he knew now that life, and love, didn’t often go the way one imagined.

Breaking the silence, Ben tried to lighten the mood. “You know,” he said, “coming in from outside, it’s like stepping into another world. Out there, it’s just crops and nature. In here, it’s like a mini-arsenal. No one would ever suspect we’ve got this much gear stashed in a farmhouse.”

Pat looked up at him, a mischievous grin spreading as he placed his hand possessively over Beth’s, almost like a child staking a claim. It was classic Pat—a fierce warrior but hopelessly naïve when it came to relationships.

“True that,” Pat replied. “We’ve got enough firepower in here to outfit a whole company.” He glanced at Ben with a smirk. “Speaking of which, I heard from Prince and his crew in Virginia. Orders are clear: no promoting violence in D.C. That’s going to be on the Deep State goons. They want another January 6th circus.”

Beth sat up suddenly, slipping her hand out from under Pat’s. Pat’s face flashed with surprise, but he covered it quickly as Beth turned to Lisa. “Help me with the contact list, will you? Not everyone switched to satellite, and we’ve already lost contact with a few groups, including Kevin’s folks in Virginia. Could be the Feds hitting them right now.”

She moved to the large table stacked with maps, radios, and papers covered in scrawled names and frequencies. Ben, watching her go, decided to stir the pot. He plopped down next to Pat on the floor, mimicking Beth’s former position, and nudged Pat. “Want to hold my hand, too? I could use a little moral support.”

The room burst into laughter. Even Pat joined in, the tension lifting like a valve releasing. He shook his head and stood, but he couldn’t resist joining Beth at the table. “If Kevin’s group is compromised, it’s only a matter of time. We’d be better off with you outside, Ben, scoping out the terrain.”

Ben sighed, leaning back with a weary smile. “Even Achilles had to sleep, my friend. I’ll grab a bite first, then head back out. Zach’s still in the tree line, and you know how sharp he is.”

Lisa chuckled from her seat. “He’s so sharp I lost a hundred bucks to him last year when he beat you at the range. Remember that, Ben?”

Luke, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward with a knowing grin. “Ben had… other issues that day, but I had inside intel. That’s why I bet on Zach and won.”

Ben chuckled, and Beth caught his eye, smiling. Pat looked around, squinting, realizing everyone seemed to be in on the joke except him. “Alright, what’s the secret? What screwed up your aim that day?”

Ben smirked, closing his eyes briefly, almost as if he could brush off the memory. Finally, he opened one eye, glancing at Beth. “Go ahead,” he said, shaking his head. “You might as well tell him.”

Pat raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm. “Please, enlighten me. Why did I lose a hundred bucks on you, Ben? You magnificent bastard.”

The laughter erupted again, and Beth took a deep breath, unable to hide her grin. “Alright, alright. Ben here was experimenting with fasting and this fancy prebiotic fiber… thought it would make him some kind of super soldier.” She couldn’t help but laugh as she spoke, and the others leaned in.

Pat’s brow furrowed as he tried to piece it together. “Prebiotic fiber? And that did what…?”

Beth’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “It makes you fart, Pat. A lot. And completely unpredictably.”

Pat’s mouth dropped open as he stared at Ben. “No… No way. You mean I lost a hundred bucks because you couldn’t stop farting?”

Ben covered his face, laughing harder than he had in weeks, and everyone followed suit. Even Pat, who had been staring incredulously, finally joined in. Their laughter filled the room, releasing a tension they hadn’t realized had settled so deeply.

Pat finally shook his head, wiping a tear from his eye. “You know, you think you’ve got life figured out, and then something like this happens. I lost $100 because farts were shaking Ben in a sharpshooter contest. Fucking unreal… I need a damn minute.” He staggered up, still chuckling, and disappeared into the bathroom.

The room fell quiet, and Ben looked over at Beth, then at Lisa and Luke, sharing a glance of relief. “Just wait,” he muttered, “I’ll never hear the end of this. Every time we talk about marksmanship, it’ll be a fart joke.”

Lisa leaned back with a smirk. “Oh, that’s a guarantee. You know Pat.”

A minute later Pat re-emerged, looking half-amused, half-somber. “Alright, jokes aside,” he said, straightening up, “the Feds are closing in. If they’re taking out Kevin’s people, we’re all on borrowed time. We can’t keep playing defense. We’ve got to take them down—every last one of them.”

Lisa stood, crossing her arms. “Arrest, Pat. Not take out. We keep the high road as long as possible. Don’t let them push us down that path.”

Pat nodded, though a dark intensity flickered in his eyes. Everyone sensed it. The stakes were climbing, and each of them knew their lives would be forever changed before this was over.

Next: Chapter 6 page 2

Chapter Links

Chapter 1 page 1
Chapter 1 Page 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 page 1
Chater 6 page 2
Chapter 6 page 3
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 page 1
Chapter 9 page 2
Chapter 10

Hey, Sgt. K here—also known as CK Sheldon. I’ve got one book published on Amazon as part of a trilogy, though only the first is currently available due to editing challenges. I’m working on bringing the other two books back, using ChatGPT to refine them, and I’ll likely add this new book there, too, if there’s interest. Since this isn’t about profit for me, you can always read it here on Whatfinger News for free, complete with the original links.

For anyone interested, my Amazon book is Allfather Saga. Fair warning: it’s a mix of science fiction, politics, and a bit of mature content. And yes, Trump makes an appearance in Book 3, though the story is set far into the future.

Untraceable phone – you need to see this Glenn Beck Vid with Erik Prince – See You Have a TRACKER in Your Pocket Sending Data to the Deep State – might be the MOST important vid you see this year – might save your life folks – your kids too – you’ll get it and the details will freak you out. It did me. …  Sgt Pat
https://unplugged.com/ is Prince’s company.