“We’ll be there, Sir,” Alex said.
Amy nodded her agreement. “Of course, Sir.”
Officer Brown looked at Amy. “I’ll see you later, Miss. In the meantime, your brother can help us unload our take for the day. Like it or not, life goes on, and people need to eat.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Amy watched Officer Brown leave with a twinge of regret. It would’ve been nice to stay in the community, but she knew that leaving was the right thing to do.
She hugged Alex goodbye and found Simone in the crowd. “Ready to go?”
“Yes, I’m done. Besides, we wouldn’t want to get old Joey into trouble,” Simone said with a wink.
“No, we wouldn’t,” Amy agreed, looping her arm through Simone’s. “Let’s put the poor boy out of his misery.”
Chapter 11 - Tara
At ten-fifteen on the dot, Tara and her group were escorted into a large office by two soldiers. The room contained a long, rectangular table ringed with chairs, a projection screen against the wall, and a side-table loaded with coffee, tea, milk, sugar, and an urn. Every seat at the table was equipped with a notebook, pen, and a bottle of water. It was all very pedestrian, more like a boardroom meeting than a council of war.
Major Reed was already present, seated at the head of the table like a king. He acknowledged Tara and the others with a brief nod and said. “Please, be seated. The meeting will begin as soon as everyone is here.”
“Thank you, Major,” Tara said, but he’d already returned his attention to the pile of papers in front of him and effectively dismissed her.
With a shrug, Tara helped herself to a cup of coffee and took the seat directly opposite the major. A deliberate choice. Saul and Dylan joined her on either side and not long after that, Ethan showed up too.
He sat down next to Dylan and looked around. “Hi, everyone. Sorry, I’m late.”
“No need to apologize, Doctor. We all know how hard you work in the hospital,” Tara said.
“Yes, you look tired, Ethan. Aren’t you getting enough sleep?” Dylan asked with a worried frown.
Ethan returned her smile, but it was apparent the long hours were getting to him. “Maybe not, but I’ve got the rest of the day off, at least.”
“That’s great. It’ll give us a chance to catch up,” Dylan replied, leaning toward him.
Tara eyed the two with speculation, wondering where the friendship was going. Especially with Nick on the scene, as well. If she wasn’t mistaken, both Ethan and Nick had the hots for Dylan. The question was, how did she feel about them?
Tara wasn’t sure. Dylan was still adamant about leaving the base as soon as she got the chance. Her main focus lay on Amy and Alex. Not romance. Either way, this is not going to end well.
Within the next couple of minutes, more people filtered in. Dr. Patel, Dr. Wilkins, Lieutenant King, Sergeant Dean, and a few strangers.
Nick eyed Ethan with a look of disfavor before choosing the seat opposite Dylan and next to Saul. He kept throwing her covert glances, which she seemed to miss. Ethan, on the other hand, missed nothing, and his growing hostility toward the sergeant was palpable. Tara could only heave an inner sigh. And so it begins — the famous lover’s triangle. Thank God, I’ve got Saul.
She reached over and squeezed Saul’s hand. “This is it. We’re here at last.”
“I told you I’d get you here even if it killed me,” he replied with a warm smile.
“Lucky you didn’t.”
Her attention was drawn away from him when Major Reed stood up and cleared his throat. “Can everyone find a seat, please? We don’t have all day.”
The buzz of conversation in the room died a sudden death as the last few stragglers grabbed a chair and sat down. Once dead silence reigned, the major gave a nod of approval and opened with a short speech.
“You all know why we’re here. I’ve approved a request by Dr. Lee to clear the USAMRIID Laboratory of infected individuals and reinstate its employees. Their main purpose will be to manufacture more of the cure to the Vita virus and to develop a vaccine. Any questions?”
A man Tara didn’t know, raised his hand. “Does the cure really work? I’ve heard the rumors, but —”
“It works,” Major Reed confirmed before pointing at Nick. “It was tested on one of our own, Sergeant Dean, and as you can see, he’s in perfect health.”
“Any side effects?”
Major Reed hesitated. “If the cure is not administered quickly, there can be lasting damage to the brain caused by the virus. This manifests in the form of mood swings and increased hostility. However, in the sergeant’s case, it was given soon enough to prevent this.”
All heads turned toward the sergeant, and Nick nodded at everyone. “I’m quite sane, I assure you. Not at all hungering for your flesh.”
“Drs. Patel and Wilkins also tested the blood of the three people who’ve received the cure thus far. Their results were conclusive,” Major Reed continued.
Dr. Patel looked up from her notebook. “There were no remaining traces of the virus in their blood. They are also immune to it after receiving the cure. In other words, they cannot be reinfected.”
“That’s astonishing,” the stranger mumbled, and Tara later learned he was a civilian contractor and engineer in charge of the base’s infrastructure.
“Indeed,” the major said. “Such a thing will give our troops the edge they sorely need in the fight against the undead. Therefore, the sooner the lab can be cleared, the better.”
“Where do we begin?” Tara asked.
“We need to select a fighting unit to go in and clear the building, floor by floor,” Major Reed said. “Lieutenant King has volunteered to lead the unit. He also has six other volunteers, all soldiers, ready to join him.”
Tara’s eyebrows rose at the news. She hadn’t expected much help on the mission, although she’d hoped they wouldn’t be sent in alone. It seemed that the major was wholly on-board now, a fact that worried her a little. What does he want out of this? To be hailed as a hero?
“Sergeant Dean, Lieutenant Dhlamini, and Miss Young will also be part of the unit, mostly because they cannot be reinfected. This gives them a decided advantage that cannot be ignored,” Major Reed continued. “It brings the unit up to ten, which is enough given the breadth of the halls in the laboratory. In this case, more is not necessarily better.”
“What about me?” Tara asked.
“We cannot risk your life, Dr. Lee. You are the only one with intimate knowledge of the cure. You will remain where it’s safe.”
“But —”
“It’s not open for discussion, Dr. Lee,” the major said, throwing her a sharp look.
For a moment, Tara considered arguing with the man, but it would be a wasted effort. The major’s mind was made up. Plus, Saul was throwing her the kind of looks that meant he agreed with the major. Besides, they did have a valid point. Without her, there was no cure. It would take months, or at the least weeks, for the other scientists to interpret her work.
With reluctance, Tara inclined her head. “Fair enough.”
Suddenly, Ethan spoke up. “I’m going with them in case someone is wounded.”
“I’m afraid not, Dr. Hayes. As an experienced medical doctor and surgeon, you’re too valuable and cannot be risked. One of Lieutenant King’s men is a trained medic and can perform such services for the unit.”
“But, I insist, Major,” Ethan said, looking at Dylan.
“You’re not an experienced fighter, doctor,” Sergeant Dean said, and Tara wanted to kick him.
Ethan raised his chin. “I can handle myself.”
Dylan looked from one to the other, her eyes wide, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. For once, she showed a bit of discretion.
“The decision has been made, Dr. Hayes. You will not accompany the unit. If you wish, you can wait outside with a medical team when they emerge,” Major Reed offered, which was more than Tara had thought he would.
F
or a moment, it looked like Ethan would press his case, but in the end, he said. “Alright. I’ll be on standby with a team.”
“Thank you, Dr. Hayes,” Major Reed said. “Rest assured they’ll have access to the best equipment we have to offer: Full protective gear, weapons, ammunition, rations, comms, and a map of the building. We all want this mission to succeed with minimal loss of life.”
“Good to know,” Dylan muttered.
“What else?” Tara asked.
“We’ll need to provide electricity to the building,” another stranger said, raising his hand. “Otherwise, they won’t be able to access different floors.”
“That’s correct, Mr. Davis. That’s why you’re here,” Major Reed said. “We’ll need a steady, uninterrupted power supply while the unit is inside. Can you ensure that?”
“I might have to do some rerouting, but yes, it can be done,” Davis said.
“Good. We’ll also need a full set of passwords and key cards to allow them access to the different levels,” Major Reed continued. “Drs. Patel and Wilkins. Can you assist us in that regard?”
“Of course, Major,” Dr. Patel answered. “We’ll get right on it.”
“Excellent.” For the first time since she’d met him, Tara saw the major smile.
“When are we going in?” Dylan asked.
“Tomorrow morning,” the major replied. “All members of the infiltrating unit are expected to report to Armory B1 at zero seven hundred hours tomorrow. They will gear up and receive their instructions at that time. Any questions?”
“I’ve got one,” Dylan said, sitting upright. “What about the infectious diseases inside the lab? Isn’t it dangerous? Won’t we be exposed to the pathogens?”
The major hesitated, and Tara silently applauded Dylan. It was a valid question and a clever one.
Major Reed turned to Dr. Patel. “Can you answer Miss Young?”
The scientist nodded, her dark eyes gleaming. “Recent safety concerns led the government to shut down research involving dangerous microbes like the Ebola virus and tularemia. This was before the outbreak began, and the ban was never lifted. As long as you observe basic safety protocols, you should be fine.”
“Basic safety protocols?” Dylan asked.
Dr. Patel smiled. “It’s simple. Don’t touch it if you don’t know what it is. If it looks dangerous, it probably is.”
Dylan laughed. “Good tip. I’ll remember that when a dozen bloodthirsty zombies are chasing me.”
“I’m sure Dr. Lee can brief the unit on the safety protocols as well as anything else they might need to know?” Major Reed asked.
Tara nodded. “Of course. I’d be happy to, and I’ll also set up a decontamination process for them when they emerge from the building.”
“We can help you with that, Dr. Lee,” Dr. Patel said.
“Thank you,” Tara said, inclining her head.
“Good. Then it’s settled. Are there any more questions or concerns?” the major asked.
A couple of people raised a few minor things, but in essence, the meeting was over. Half an hour later, Tara and the others were standing outside discussing the mission to come.
“How do you guys feel about Lieutenant King leading the mission?” Tara asked.
“He seems competent enough, and I’m willing to take all the help we can get,” Saul replied.
“But doesn’t it seem odd to you that the major is so eager for this to succeed? It feels to me like he’s got an agenda,” Tara said.
“Don’t they all?” Dylan asked. “Governors, politicians, officers…they’re all the same. They use circumstances and people to make themselves look good.”
“Either way, you’re getting what you want. You should be celebrating right now,” Ethan said.
“I’ll celebrate when Saul and Dylan make it back alive,” Tara replied.
“We’ll make it. Don’t worry,” Saul said.
“I think we should all get as much sleep as possible. Tomorrow is going to be a long day,” Tara said, making a mental list of everything that had to be done.
“I could use the rest,” Ethan agreed.
“Anything to get rid of this hangover,” Dylan said, pressing one hand to her forehead.
“Okay, guys, nice chat, but I need to get going,” Nick said, excusing himself.
“Where to?” Dylan asked.
“I’ve got some things to take care of first, but I’ll see you at the debriefing tomorrow morning,” he said, turning toward the barracks. “Enjoy your day off!”
“You heard the man. It’s our day off. Let’s make the best of it,” Dylan said, heading toward the civilian quarters.
Tara followed at a slower pace, her mind buzzing as she looked for loopholes in the plan. Anything could go wrong. Anyone could die. This was what she’d wanted, yet now that the time had arrived, she had second thoughts.
“Don’t do that,” Saul said, falling in next to her.
“Do what?”
“Worry yourself to death. It will all work out, I promise,” he said. “You’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right,” Tara said, leaning into his side. Because I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.
Chapter 12 - Dylan
Dylan stamped her feet and rubbed her hands together as she walked, trying to ward off the bitter cold. It was ten to seven in the morning, and they were on their way to the armory. Nick, Saul, Tara, Ethan, and herself had convened at the house for breakfast at six before braving the elements.
At that time of the morning, the sun wasn’t even up yet. The wind howled through the bare branches of the trees and cut to the bone. Despite the thick jacket, jeans, and boots she wore, she couldn’t feel her fingers or her toes. Every breath produced a puff of white mist, and her ponytail had turned into an icicle.
“Man, this isn’t funny,” she complained to Nick. “Does it always get so cold here in winter?”
“It can drop below freezing, and it will likely snow one of these days,” he replied, looking up at the grey clouds above their heads.
“That sucks,” Dylan muttered. “I’m not fond of the cold. I prefer sunny weather. I spent a big chunk of my teens in Florida.”
Nick nodded. “Yeah, it can get pretty miserable around here, but it’s not as bad as the northern states. Still, you’d better get yourself proper gear for the season. Thermal underwear, a waterproof jacket, gloves, a beanie, that kind of stuff.”
Dylan shot him a wry smile. “I’ll put it on the list next time I go shopping.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Tell you what. If we make it out of this, I’ll take you to the Quartermaster, and we’ll get gear for all of you.”
“It’s a deal,” Dylan said, looking up at the building that loomed in front of them. Armory B1. “It’s about to get real, isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid it is,” Nick said.
They stopped in front of the entrance and turned toward Tara and Ethan. Tara hugged Saul and smiled at the rest of them. “This is where we part ways for now. I’ll be at the lab entrance, setting up the decontamination room. I’ll see you there.”
“And I’m organizing an emergency unit for you guys in case one of you gets hurt. See you later,” Ethan added.
“Bye, guys,” Dylan said, watching them leave.
Nick tugged at her arm. “Come on. Let’s go inside. You’ll see your friends soon enough.”
She stepped through the door and felt immediate relief from the cold. While not precisely warm inside, the armory did offer shelter from the icy wind.
Lieutenant King and his men were already there, sorting through the gear lying on the counter. They were dressed in fatigues with a matching helmet, and each carried a backpack, rifle, side-arm, combat knife, ammunition, and a radio.
King looked up as they entered and pointed toward three bundles. “That’s for you, guys. Miss Young, you can dress in the back room. No one will bother you there.”
“Thanks,” Dylan said, scooping up her stuff
and ducking into the offered room. She closed the door behind her and examined the gear with a frown. She wasn’t with the army, and the uniform was alien to her. Oh, well, here goes.
With nervous fingers, Dylan undressed and folded her clothes into a neat pile. She tugged on the t-shirt, followed by the pants and belt. The boots went on next, followed by the jacket and vest.
The combat knife, Beretta, and radio went onto her belt, but she had no use for the rifle. She wasn’t experienced enough with its use and would probably kill someone if she tried to shoot it. Instead, she added a machete to her arsenal of weapons and tucked another knife into the top of her right boot. There, that should do it.
After rummaging through the backpack, she determined it contained a canteen of water, a packet of rations, batteries, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, and extra ammo for the rifle and sidearm. She tossed the rifle bullets aside and tucked several full magazines for the sidearm into the available pockets on her vest.
A knock on the door announced Saul. “Need any help?”
“I can’t use the rifle,” she answered, pointing to the gun and its ammunition. “I’ll take the pistol, the knife, and my machete.”
“That’s alright. Your load will be lighter, in any case. You’d better use this, though,” he said, producing a silencer.
“Thanks, but these aren’t really silent. Not like in the movies,” Dylan said, eyeing the hollow tube. “That’s a myth.”
“I know it’s not silent, but it will help to reduce the noise. Trust me; you don’t want to fight in narrow hallways with automatic rifles and pistols thundering in your ears. You’ll burst an eardrum.”
“Why not wear earplugs?” Dylan asked.
“Then, you won’t hear anything coming at you.” He screwed the silencer onto her Beretta before helping her put on the backpack, gloves, and helmet. Afterward, he looked her up and down with an approving nod. “You’re a proper soldier now.”
“That’s hilarious,” Dylan replied, but one look in the mirror showed her he was right. With her hair tucked into the helmet, the chinstrap, full uniform, and the jacket zipped to the chin, she looked like a boy — a soldier boy.
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