Chapter 49

New Year's Day came and went. The Disturbed Family had a lot to be thankful for over the past couple of years. New additions, a new album and the beginning of yet another mind blowing record. But the biggest things were yet to come.

They were finally getting news on the war.. and that's exactly what it was. There was actual fighting going on over the bullshit. The Establishment was now trying to preach about a Utopian Society where there was no fear, or pain, or anger. To Brie, it sounded a little too Chronicles of Riddick.

Their fans had started looking for them and several of them found the house. Dan had an idea to make these kids, because they couldn't have been older than 15 or 16, the official gophers of the house. If they needed anything, they just gave these kids a call.

Masses of people had started coming to the house now, wanting to see the band, or to hear David give one of his passionate monologues. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't. Not and risk his life to the Establishment and leave Brie with the kids by herself. Not a chance in hell. Instead, he'd started videotaping them and having them distributed bootleg style. He didn't care. He wanted to be able to interact with the fans and the Army in any way he could.

One day, while the guys were downstairs working on the new album, the doorbell rang. Nicole was the first one to the door. All of the wives were taught to be cautious now that there was a full scale civil war going on outside their door. Nicole double checked the peep hole, then opened the door to the dark haired stranger. "I'm looking for Brie", he said. "Either Brie or David. I need to speak with them".

Brie had just come from down stairs, carrying a ball for the kids to play with. She dropped it in shock. "MATTHEW? IS THAT YOU?"

"Hey little sister!" he said.

She ran down the stairs and hugged the man. He was wearing his Marine Corps. dress blues, but they were dirty and ragged. "What happened to your uniform, Mattie?"

"When I was discharged from the Corps, these douche bags that called themselves Utopian- ists tried to force me into this vehicle to take me to their compound. I was wearing this. I haven't had anything else to put on in a month, but I had to find you. Where is your husband? I need to tell him and the rest of the band some information about what I've heard people calling the Establishment."

"They're in the basement at the moment, Mattie. Let me see if they can take a break, okay? Meanwhile, you need a shower and a clean change of clothes. Hey, Tina?"

"Yeah?" Tina responded.

"He looks about Mike's size. Do you think Mike would mind loaning him some clothes until we can get him some."

"I don't think Mike will mind loaning this Marine some clothes."

Brie swallowed. "He's not just any Marine, Tina. He's my brother."

"Then if Mike pitches a fit, I'll knock his block off."

"Thank you, Mrs. Wengren. This means a lot to me", Mattie said.

"Matthew, please just call me Tina, and you're more than welcome. You're sister's going to go see if the guys can take a break and talk to you. While she's doing that, you can take a shower. Come on, hon, let's get you cleaned up."

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Brie did what she'd always called a cop knock on the door. Dan answered it. "What's up, Brie?"

"I need to talk to you guys now. All of you."

He stepped out of the way and let her in.

David saw the look of worry and fright on his wife's face. "Baby, what's wrong? Are the kids okay?"

"Yeah, the kids are fine, but I'm not. My brother is here."

"Hold on", John said. "Your brother the Marine?"

"Yes, John."

"What is your brother doing here?" Mike asked.

"He has information to give you guys that you can pass on to the Agency about the Establishment. And, Tina's loaning him some of your clothes, Mikey."

"That's fine. He served our country in a time of war, he can have his pick of my wardrobe."

"Why is Tina loaning him some of Mikey's clothes?" David asked.

"You should have seen him, David. He was disgusting and dirty. His dress blues and tattered and torn. He looked a mess."

"What can he tell us?" John asked.

"I don't know, John. He just showed up at the door. I was coming down the stairs while he was asking for either me or David."

David looked at his brothers. "We should go talk to him", he said.

There was no need to say anything else. They had reached a silent consensus and they all started heading up the stairs to talk to Brie's brother.