“But with everything that’s going on in the world, do you really think—”
“At all times, in all situations, there are people who are solely concerned with self preservation. It’s the same with organizations. Maybe they’re thinking they should let it all blow over and they can come out on top after we’re all dead, or maybe they’re planning on bringing out a vaccine or a cure and presenting themselves as the saviors we need. I’m sure either outcome would be worth quite a lot to them.”
“It’s a little hard to imagine someone could be thinking of this as a situation they could profit from.”
Maxwell smiled.
“How long have you been with us, Elizabeth?”
“Five years.” She responded honestly.
“Take a seat.” Maxwell instructed. Hall complied, sitting down at the table and wondering what was on his mind.
“Fifteen years ago I was in Czortzia. Ever heard of it?”
“No, Sir.”
“It’s a tiny, breakaway country not that far from Poland. They got hit hard after the Berlin Wall fell and, well, let’s just say some less than desirable elements were able to assume almost complete control. We’d been invited in country by the last of the legitimate government; they needed our help to eliminate a crime lord. Victor Prusnichev was his name. He was a sick, disturbed son of a bitch; he thought nothing of ordering the slaughter of the inhabitants of whole neighborhoods if there was even a suggestion someone amongst them was considering standing against him. Whole families, Elizabeth. He was merciless.”
Hall nodded. It was disturbing that humans were capable of such savagery; she’d seen some of it firsthand and knew it to be true.
“It was Jack’s first assignment with me too. The shit hit the fan, the other members of the team were killed and I was wounded; we were hunted through the streets by Prusnichev himself. He wanted to capture us alive so he could make an example out of us.”
“What happened?”
“Backed into a corner, I ordered Jack to leave me behind, get to the extraction point and save himself. Stubborn as he is, Jack refused; he fought like hell, killed Prusnichev and pulled us both out of there.” Maxwell answered, stopping after enlightening her to light his cigarette. Hall still wasn’t sure what this had to do with her original question.
“I can see why you’ve a strong bond with him, sir, but what does this have to do with our current situation?”
“Prusnichev’s organization was so massive it could put legitimate businesses to shame. The infrastructure, we learned, contained politicians from all over the globe, as well as legitimate business leaders and shady arms dealers... He even had shares in quite a few companies over here, and they were all happy to be part of it. The point I’m making is, although Prusnichev was viewed by most people as being a brutal dictator pretty much in control of his own country, he had ties right across Europe too, and those ties were willing to turn a blind eye to the murders taking place across the continent and the wholesale slaughter in Czortzia, because the profits were high.”
Hall nodded her understanding.
“You think it’s no different to what this secret division is doing with the zombie virus.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me.” Maxwell stated, taking a long pull on his cigarette. “These creatures - the infected - they’re operating on a primal instinct. It’s appalling what they do, but they are simply attempting to fulfill a need; truthfully, there’s no malice in it. But the people who created the virus, they knew exactly what they were doing. I don’t know if we’re really going to be able to turn this around, I don’t know if it’s even possible at this point, but before the end I want to make sure those bastards pay for it.”
Hall nodded, stood and collected her tablet.
“I’ll get those names for you, sir.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth.”
Hall turned to leave the room, already starting to put in the research orders.
By the time Jack and the others were halfway to the parking structure, it had become quite cloudy overhead and rain had started to fall. Thick, heavy droplets spattered the ground, soaking the pavement and making it slick. As they made their way down side streets, avenues and alleyways, there was a definite tinge of red in places where the rain was washing blood from bones or the bodies of the infected. Somehow, the closeness of the air and the moisture also combined to make the stench even worse. It was probably the worst smell Jack had ever experienced and, as they trudged along the streets, Jack occasionally let out a stifled, but rough cough; he heard it occasionally repeated by the rest of the group, who were also probably suffering the same churning in their guts that he was. Nevertheless they pressed on, advancing as quickly as they could, skirting around groups of infected and streets blocked off with wrecks, debris or other junk that was making it difficult to pass by with ease.
The group was keeping up a steady pace, but once they were about five minutes out from the parking lot they were forced to stop, ducking into the lobby of a small hotel while Jack talked on the radio, also affording them an opportunity to catch a breather.
“Jack,” Hall came over the radio, “based on what you said we re-routed the drone to the parking lot. It is the same one that was marked for your secondary extraction point, and UAV sweeps have indicated there are twelve figures on the top floor of structure. We couldn’t risk getting in close for a better look as the drone may have been shot down.”
“That tracks with what the sniper told us. Ten of them, plus Smith and Bridges.” Jack responded.
“There’s an unknown helicopter coming in low across the city, due to arrive in about twenty minutes.”
“Understood.” Jack responded. To his mind, it was possible they’d decide to kill Bridges and Smith rather than risk them getting loose in transit and foiling their escape plan, so with the enemy transport incoming, he knew their time was growing short. “Anything else?”
“There’s a significant infected presence around the building.”
“Define significant?”
“I’m seeing hundreds of them on the streets around the structure. There isn’t a clear route so, if you’re going to reach Bridges and Smith, you’re going to need punch right through them.”
“And if we do that we’ll be fighting Bolvinox up front and the infected from the rear.”
“Jack, you need to consider getting Emma out of there.” Maxwell interjected. “She’s too vital to lose.”
Jack glanced at the doctor and considered what his superior was saying. Had Bolvinox set up the meeting to exchange her for Smith and Bridges the pair would have been safe - at least for a while longer, but they hadn’t even attempted to get in touch again. It was possible they thought she was already dead, killed in the drone strike and explosive trap they’d left in place for them. Leaving two of his team behind to face certain death wasn’t something he was prepared to do, however, and he had the feeling Emma would rather stay with them and at least attempt a rescue than turn round and head for the road to ensure her own safety. So, as the closest extraction point was where they were going anyway, to Jack’s mind the only way out at this point was to go through the hell that was ahead of them. Besides, he had one last plan up his sleeve.
“Negative. We all stay together.” He replied in clipped tones. “Are there any other drones in the area?”
“Not that we can detect.”
“Good. I don’t want another explosive surprise. Get our bird in the air; if this works out we’re going to need immediate extraction.”
“Understood. There’ll be an additional fireteam on board to help with crowd control should you need it.”
“Fine. Tell me about the parking structure.” Jack instructed.
“It’s five levels in height, with ramps on the west and east sides.” Hall responded. “Inside appears to have limited numbers of infected and there are columns that could be used for cover when Bolvinox opens fire, in addition to parked vehicles.”
“Do
you have any armed drones you can send our way?”
“I’m not sure. We’re pulling the last group of survivors out of a refugee centre in a school, so all our aerial assets are engaged. We’re also about to lose the recon drone you’re using.”
“Fantastic.” Jack commented dryly. He stepped out of the lobby and scanned the area. They still had a distance to go, and there were a few infected shuffling about at the end of the street.
“What are you going to do, Jack?” Maxwell questioned.
“We’re going to make a call. Monitor the main frequency, I’m changing back to try to communicate with them and see if we can throw them off guard.”
“Be careful.” Maxwell instructed unnecessarily.
Jack changed the frequency on his radio back to the frequency he hoped the Bolvinox team was still monitoring.
“Hey, your setup failed. We’re still alive and so is the doctor.” Jack declared. He waited for several long moments, still surveying the street for something that might help them later. After a minute had passed, Jack was about to try again when he heard the same raspy voice from earlier.
“Jack, is that you?” It questioned. The inflection of the words, the accent - despite the distortion over the radio - made it possible for Jack to recognize the voice this time.
“Jared. I heard you were dead.”
“I heard you were being tortured in a prison somewhere.”
“I was, but apparently you weren’t dead.”
“Maybe I was.” Jared responded. “Sorry about the drone and the explosives; it wasn’t personal, but that doctor needs to die and the data she’s carrying needs to be destroyed. I don’t suppose you’d like to put two in the back of her head for us for old time’s sake?”
“Not a chance in hell.”
“That’s unfortunate, Jack. You always were a bit squeamish.”
“Not squeamish, just not comfortable killing witnesses. There was a rumor going around a while back that you did that once, but I didn’t want to believe it. I guess I was wrong.”
“It’s not about killing witnesses or anything like that, Jack, it’s about doing what needs to be done for the greater good.”
“And how is killing Emma and destroying that data she’s carrying for the greater good?”
“Wish I could tell you, Jack, but it’s need to know.” Jared told him, letting out a long sigh. “I guess we’re at an impasse.”
“You still have two of my mine. I want them back.” Jack informed him.
“I’m not sure you’ll want them. Well, maybe Smith, but Bridges is an annoying little shit. He never stops talking, but never says anything we want to hear.”
“If you kill them you won’t have to fake your death, Jared. I’ll kill you myself.”
Jared laughed.
“Still a tough guy. Is the doctor still with you?”
“Yeah.”
“Tell you what; give us the flash drive and you can keep the doctor and these two.”
Jack waited, pretending to consider what Jared was suggesting.
“Put them on; give me proof of life and you can have the drive.”
“There’s that bleeding heart of yours again, Jack.” Jared said.
“Ramsay! Don’t give the bastard anything!” Smith roared.
“Right, but help us too!” Bridges called out. There was a loud thumping sound and a grunt of pain. Jack wasn’t sure who had been struck, but it made a little flash of anger pass through him.
“We’re leaving in twenty minutes, Jack. If you’re not here by the time our ride is I’m going to have to retire Bridges and Smith.” Jared told him. Jack caught sight of a large, black van at the far end of the street, back the way they had come, giving him an idea.
“We’ll be there.” Jack told him, reaching behind to change the channel on his radio while turning to head back into the lobby.
“We don’t have the drive.” Tyrone declared, stating the obvious.
“They don’t know that though.”
“And they’ll probably try to kill us as soon as they see us.”
“Yeah, that too.”
“Not to mention the infected.” Tyrone added.
“I hadn’t forgotten.” Jack said, staying near the doors. “Problem?”
“No. Just making sure you know how deeply we’re in the shit.”
Jack smiled.
“Just another day at the office, right?”
Jack had briefly checked in with Hall, allowing him to confirm the plan in advance. Once everything was prepared, at least as much as it could be, Jack retrieved the van from down the street, finding the keys - and the hands of the driver - still inside. He drove back up to the lobby and most of the team loaded themselves into the back. Rodriguez, however, went on foot to his location; it was risky sending him alone, but the silent soldier insisted it would be better for him. Reluctantly, Jack agreed and the plan was set in motion. Jack was behind the wheel with Tyrone in the passenger seat beside him. Cross and Emma were in the rear, sitting and holding on tight to the strips of fabric normally used to secure cargo.
“This is going to be one hell of a fight, Jack.” Tyrone announced.
“Yeah. Even if we get up top quickly, we still have to hold out for an extraction.” Jack responded, glancing sideways at his comrade. “Bet you’re wishing you got on the helicopter now.”
“You know it wasn’t personal, right? I had orders.”
“It’s hard to not take it personal, Ty. After everything we went through, all the jobs we did...” Jack trailed off, glancing at him again. “It just puts things in perspective.”
“So what? When this is all said and done are we going to have to settle things? Like you talked about settling things with Maxwell?”
Jack grinned.
“It’s funny, but the zombie apocalypse kind of changes your way of thinking.” Jack responded as he drove past a group of infected on their hands and knees, visibly devouring someone.
“How so?”
“The thing that enticed me to working for the Coalition was the suggestion that it was a true multi-national group; that they’d work with anyone who was interested in preserving peace and enforcing global laws. We weren’t just enforcing the will of a particular nation; it was about the common laws that we all believe in.”
“It’s a great ideal.” Tyrone agreed.
“But inevitably we couldn’t keep it going; too many people wanted us to focus on their problems, their issues, and to hell with everyone else. It was fracturing the organization. I sometimes wonder if I’d still have been working there today even if I hadn’t been captured. I’m actually kind of surprised you are.”
“I’m still a few years out from retirement. I’ve been a soldier or an agent my whole life, it’s all I know. Tammy’s got hospital bills and the kids are in college, and that shit ain’t cheap. I’ve got people who depend on me, and I had to keep going, Jack.”
Jack wondered what Tammy’s hospital bills were related to, as Tyrone had never mentioned this in any of the communications they’d had. Then again, Jack realized it had been a very long time since they’d actually spoken. While he wanted to ask about Tammy’s condition, he knew now was neither the time nor the place.
“I understand. And you don’t have to worry; I’m not going to be settling up with you or Maxwell. What happened is in the past and we’re going to keep moving forward.”
“I have to say I’m surprised. I figured you’d at least want to have some stern words with me.”
“Oh believe me, Ty, we’re going to have some words.” Jack told him, almost smiling. “But it comes back to why I joined the Coalition. This thing - the infected - they’re global now. There’s not going to be any creeds or ideologies to separate us, it’s just going to be about the living fighting against the dead. We’ll have a truly common goal to unite us and maybe that unity will lead to something better after we get things under control again.”
“You really think that?” Tyrone asked. Jac
k shrugged.
“I always thought I’d kill Maxwell on sight. Then he came, explained what was going on, now I’m going to work with him until this job is done.” Jack explained. “If I can be turned around then there’s definitely hope for everyone else.”
They drove for a little while longer. Strangely, Jack felt comfortable to be back with Tyrone and heading into battle. He wasn’t sure if they were really friends anymore, but the truth was, he would rather be riding into hell with him than anyone else.
“Where are your wife and kids, Ty? Did they get to safety?” Jack asked.
“Last I heard, yeah. They’re in a safe zone in California.”
“Good.”
“They moved a lot of military families to safety straight away. Hard for soldiers to fight when they’re worrying about their loved ones. Though they didn’t get to everyone in the worst hit areas.”
“Anyone we know?”
Tyrone glanced at him and nodded.
“Maxwell’s wife for one. Not sure about his son. I tried to ask him once, but he’s a private guy.”
“I guess that explains why he started smoking again.”
“Drinking too. I swear I don’t know when he sleeps either, because he’s always up in that damn office looking over reports, making calls, moving pieces. If he’s hurting because of a loss then he’s not shown an ounce of it.”
Jack couldn’t help but feel a small amount of admiration creeping up on him for the old soldier. He’d not considered up until that moment what he might be going through on a personal level, and yet there it was.
They drove the remaining, admittedly short, distance to the parking structure, pulling up half a street away. At the far end was a massive throng of infected, not moving in any particular direction, seemingly lulled into a stupor. A few were intrigued by the van and were starting to move towards it with the slow, confused shuffle that seemed characteristic of them. Fortunately, at that moment, there didn’t seem to be any of the runners, for which Jack counted his blessings. He glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard and saw that they hadn’t taken more than five minutes to drive the remaining distance, meaning they had to get through the horde and up to the top floor of the structure within fifteen minutes. Glancing at the few high rise apartments on either side, Jack hoped that Rodriguez would be able to get into position by the time they needed him.
The Z Directive (Book 1): Extraction Point Page 14