“Er, they’re a bit tipsy,” Saul said with a low laugh.
“This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder,” Tara muttered.
“Now, now. They’re good friends, and they haven’t seen you in ages. All they want is for you to join in on the fun,” Saul coaxed.
“Well…” Tara said, still hesitant. “Maybe I could go for a short while.”
“Yes, please!” Saul said, steering her out of the lab. “You need to live a little. All you do is work, work, work.”
“My work is important,” Tara protested, grabbing her key card from the counter.
“It can also wait until tomorrow. Right now, you’re spending time with the girls,” Saul said.
“I don’t know. I need to get this vaccine done. The sooner, the better.”
Saul gripped Tara by her shoulders. “Tara, sweetheart, listen to me. You’re working yourself to death, and while your job is important, you are important too.”
“I know, but—”
“I’m not letting you wiggle out of this,” Saul warned. “You’re going whether you like it or not.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll go.”
“Admit it. You need this. It’ll be good for you, you’ll see,” Saul said, drawing her in for a hug.
Tara let him hold her for a few delicious moments as her worries melted into his arms. Finally, she pulled away. “Alright. Just give me a few minutes to put my notes away.”
“I’ll wait outside,” he replied. “And don’t take too long.”
“Whatever,” Tara grumbled, but secretly, she was pleased with the prospect of taking the day off. Saul’s right. I need a break.
With swift precision, she put away her research and locked up behind her. While none of the other scientists would mess with her space, she had to be careful, nonetheless. There were rules to follow and protocols to observe. Stored inside the building were some of the earth’s most dangerous diseases, and it wouldn’t do for any of them to get out.
Once finished, she grabbed her stuff before heading to the exit. Along the way, she greeted the other scientists who were still laboring over their tasks. There weren’t many left—a few handfuls, at the most.
It suited Tara, especially when Nick placed her in charge of the facility. She much preferred working with a smaller, more intimate team. Still, if you took into account the security guards, cleaners, lab assistants, scientists, and maintenance workers, she had close to a hundred souls under her command. At first, she’d felt uncomfortable issuing orders and being the boss, but the position was growing on her.
It seems power is addictive; Tara mused as she made her way to the exit.
“Good day, Serena,” Tara said, waving at another scientist occupied with the study of the common flu.
“Bye,” Serena answered.
“See you tomorrow, Gareth,” she said to a young lab assistant in the making. Ordinarily, he’d be a senior preparing for prom. In their post-apocalyptic world, he was proving his worth to science instead.
“Bye, Dr. Lee,” he answered with a shy wave.
After making her way to the ground floor, Tara submitted to a pat-down by a female security guard called Greta. It was standard procedure to ensure nobody smuggled anything out of the building.
“Thanks, Greta. See you tomorrow,” Tara said.
Greta grinned. “If you’re able to make it.”
“What do you mean?” Tara asked.
“By the looks of that lot outside, you’re in for a wild time tonight,” Greta replied.
Tara sighed. “Oh, boy. I’m regretting this already.”
“Don’t. Have fun, Dr. Lee. This place will cope without you for a day or two,” Greta urged. “You deserve a break. We all know how much you’ve done for us.”
“Thank you, Greta. That’s kind of you to say,” Tara said, heading for the exit.
She heard them before she saw them. Wild laughter filled the air, followed by hoots and whistles. Dylan spotted her first.
“Tara!” Dylan cried, throwing her arms around her. “You’re here.”
“Well, I wasn’t given much of a choice,” Tara said with a pointed look at Saul.
He threw his hands up in surrender. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
“Come on, Tara. Don’t be a grumpy bear,” Amanda added.
“That’s right. Tonight, we forget all our troubles,” Rita cried.
Surrounded by her cheering friends, Tara could do nothing but give in to their demands. There was no escape.
Saul waved at her. “See you later, sweetheart.”
She threw him a glare. “You owe me for this, Saul Dhlamini.”
“You’re welcome,” he answered with a mocking grin.
As Dylan dragged her away by the arm, Tara reflected on an old saying. In this case, it might just prove to be true. If you can’t beat them, join them.
Chapter 5 - Saul
Saul left Tara to the tender mercy of the girls, certain he’d pay for it later. He wasn’t too bothered by it, however. It was time she left the laboratory and had a bit of fun. She’ll work herself into the ground if I let her.
A light breeze tugged at his jacket as he walked, and he found himself lifting his face toward the warmth of the sun. It was a balmy afternoon, the kind meant for beach sand and margaritas, but it also woke a new fear within him—the return of the zombies.
Saul snorted. “That sounds like a line from a bad B-Grade movie.”
It didn’t change how he felt, though, and he knew many others shared his worries, including Nick. It’s time we put our heads together and come up with a plan of action before it’s too late.
He crossed the parking lot and cut through the warehouse they used for vehicle repairs. Along the way, he spotted Alex and called out, “Hey there! Good to see you.”
Alex greeted him with a firm handshake. “Good to see you too, Sergeant. It’s been a while.”
“It has,” Saul agreed. “How do you feel?”
“Much better. I do believe I’m ready to return to work,” Alex said.
Saul heaved a sigh of relief. “You don’t know how glad we’ll be to have you back. Things have been a mess lately.”
“Amanda mentioned as much earlier,” Alex said.
“Yes, the constant patrols and raids are taking their toll on our vehicle fleet, and the other mechanics aren’t as experienced as you are,” Saul added.
Alex nodded. “I took a quick look at the available supplies for repairs, and I’m not surprised they’re struggling. We’re running low on everything, even motor oil.”
“You should talk to Nick about that,” Saul said. “I’m on my way there now. Want to join me?”
“Sure, I’ll tag along.”
Together, Saul and Alex went in search of Nick. They found him at the supply warehouses wrapping up a round of inspections.
“Hey, Nick. Look who I found,” Saul said.
“Alex, you’re up and about, I see,” Nick said.
“Yeah, I’m feeling much better these days,” Alex replied.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Nick said. “Are you ready to resume your duties? We could use you.”
“That’s why I’m here. Not only do I want to start working again, but I wanted to talk to you about our supplies.”
“Let me guess. You’re running low,” Nick said, his shoulders drooping.
“That’s right. We need more of just about everything. Motor oil, fuel, spares, tools, you name it.”
“I thought so. It’s the same everywhere else as well,” Nick said. “The problem is, we’ve stripped everything in the city to its bare bones. If we want more supplies, we’ll have to go further out.”
“And the further out we go, the more supplies we use and the more danger we face,” Saul finished with a grim look.
“It’s an evil cycle,” Nick said.
“We need to become more self-sustaining,” Alex said. “We can’t live off what we find alone. We need to produce, as
well.”
“I hear you, but it’s easier said than done,” Nick said. “Especially now.”
“Why now?” Saul asked with a frown.
“As you know, we’ve been in contact with a couple of survivor settlements via our radio system,” Nick said.
Saul nodded. “Yes, that’s right. There has even been talk of setting up possible trade routes.”
“I didn’t know that, but it would go a long way toward helping us all become self-sufficient,” Alex said. “We might even be able to start rebuilding and taking back the country from the undead.”
“My thoughts exactly, which is why we reached out to anyone willing to talk back. Thus far, the results have been encouraging. There are more people out there than I thought possible,” Nick said. “We’ve always been in contact with Mount Weather, but these other settlements are a welcome addition.”
“Mount Weather?” Alex exclaimed. “They’re still up and running?”
“Very much so,” Nick said. “But they’re not what I’m worried about at the moment. Several of the survivor groups to the south have gone dark. They’re not responding to our hails at all.”
“Dark as in off-line, or dark as in they’re gone?” Alex asked.
“We have no idea, and there is no way to tell unless we go there,” Nick said.
“That’s a risky prospect,” Saul said. “If they’ve met with disaster, we could easily run into the same danger.”
“How big are these communities?” Alex asked.
“That’s the thing. We’re not talking about a handful of people here,” Nick said. “Many of these communities are hundreds if not thousands, strong.”
“I doubt it’s simply a communication problem,” Saul mused. “One or two places going off-line I could understand, but all of them? That’s too much of a coincidence.”
“You’re right. Something else is going on,” Nick said.
“What would it take to wipe out so many?” Alex said. “An army of bad guys? A horde of zombies?”
“It could even be a disease,” Saul suggested. “An outbreak of cholera or something similar. We’re exposed to all sorts of pathogens daily, and we don’t have the defenses we used to. That’s what Tara keeps telling me anyway.”
“It could be either one of those options, and none fill me with joy,” Nick said. “We have to find out what’s going on before we fall victim to the same thing.”
“I agree. No matter the risk, we must know what we’re dealing with,” Saul said.
“So, what do we do?” Alex asked.
“I propose we send out two scouting teams. They’d have to be able to travel light and fast. Under no circumstances are they to engage with an enemy or get bogged down. This is strictly for reconnaissance purposes.”
“Basically, get in and get out,” Saul said. “It sounds good to me.”
“I’d like you to lead one of the parties, Saul, while I lead the other,” Nick said.
“I’m more than willing, but are you sure you should risk yourself? You’re our leader,” Saul said.
“I’m going. Besides, Keith Parker can take over in my absence. It’s the reason I promoted him, after all, and he’s a good man,” Nick said.
“A good man, but not very well-liked,” Saul said.
“People don’t have to like him. They just have to listen to him while I’m gone,” Nick said. “My mind is made up. I need to see this for myself. That many people can’t disappear without a trace.”
Saul shrugged. “It’s your funeral, but Dylan’s not gonna like it.”
“She won’t complain if I let her come with me,” Nick said.
Saul grinned. “Clever man. Let’s hope it doesn’t come back to bite you in the ass.”
“What about me?” Alex asked. “What can I do?”
“You can help by getting two trucks ready for the trip. One vehicle per group carrying four people each, three days worth of supplies, and a tank of spare fuel,” Nick said. “Remember, we want fast and light, but sturdy.”
“How much time have I got?” Alex asked.
“We’re leaving tomorrow morning,” Nick said.
“You can’t be serious,” Alex said. “You’re giving me half a day to get everything ready?”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got no choice. The sooner we find out what’s going on down south, the better,” Nick said. “I’ll tell Mandy to send over the rations, and Mac can supply the guns and ammo. Other than that, recruit all the help you need. It’s the best deal I can offer you.”
“Fine,” Alex grumbled. “So much for going on a date tonight,”
“Date? Who’s the lucky girl?” Nick asked.
“Was the lucky girl,” Alex corrected before adding, “It’s Amanda from the hospital.”
“I remember her,” Nick said. “She took out one of Grissom’s men.”
“That’s right.”
Nick clapped Alex on the shoulder. “Congratulations. She’s one of the good ones. A real fighter.”
“That she is,” Alex replied. “Whatever happened to Grissom, by the way? And the ex-cons who decided to join us after King’s defeat?”
“Grissom saw the light and swung over to our side,” Nick said. “That doesn’t mean I trust him, however. I’ve placed him with a maintenance group for the time being.”
Alex grunted. “That’s too good for the jackal, in my opinion.”
Nick sighed. “I can’t afford to lose any more resources, Alex. That’s the truth. As for the ex-cons, they’ve been allocated to jobs that best suit them and are under twenty-four-hour surveillance.”
“Well, Grissom had better stay the hell out of my way,” Alex said with a frown. “I won’t forget that he helped King and Perez kidnap Tara and Amy. The cons too.”
“I hear you, but we need all the firepower we can get if we hope to survive the coming months. At least King and Perez got their just dues,” Nick said.
Saul’s mind flashed back to the attack, and he remembered King’s grizzly end with deep satisfaction. Not long after that, he’d found Perez’s corpse as well, a neat bullet hole leaking blood from between the man’s eyes. They deserved it, both of them.
After Tara returned, he’d gone back to King’s base, and this time, he wiped it off the map. There wasn’t enough left to shelter a squirrel, let alone a man. They retrieved the bodies of their fallen for burial and imprisoned the few cons who surrendered.
Nick offered them a choice: Join the base or leave forever. Most of them elected to stay on with a few opting for banishment. All in all, it was a great victory for Fort Detrick. Only now, they faced a new threat from the south that could easily be the end of them.
“You’d better get going if we’re to stand any chance of leaving in the morning, Alex,” Nick prompted, pulling Saul from his morbid thoughts.
Alex nodded. “I’ll get it done.”
Saul cleared his throat. “There’s just one problem with your plan, Nick.”
“What’s that?”
“The girls have gone on a drinking spree. I doubt Dylan will be able to join you with a clear head tomorrow.”
“You’re joking,” Nick said. “A drinking spree? Now?”
“Call it a girl’s night,” Saul said. “And, I’d leave them alone if I was you. Rita needs this, and so does Tara. Let them have one night to themselves.”
“Who else is in on this?” Nick asked.
“So far, it’s only Dylan, Amanda, Tara, and Rita,” Saul said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if more join the party later on, though.”
“Amanda too?” Alex asked. “Seems our so-called date was a goner either way.”
“It’s harmless fun. Let them enjoy themselves,” Saul said.
“Damn it. I really wanted Dylan to go on this trip with me,” Nick said.
“One more day won’t hurt,” Saul replied. “It will give Alex more time to get everything ready, as well.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Nick conceded. “Your deadline has bee
n extended, Alex. Make the best of it.”
“I’ll get on it right away,” Alex said.
“And, I’ll keep an eye on the girls from afar,” Saul offered.
“Good idea. Make sure they stay out of trouble,” Nick said.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Saul said.
“It’s not them I’m worried about,” Nick said. “It’s the base.”
Saul laughed. “Good point.”
As they each went their way, Saul’s thoughts returned to the communities down south and what might have happened to them. An ominous feeling plucked at his soul, and his gut told him Fort Detrick was next. This time, there won’t be any room for mistakes.
Chapter 6 - Dylan
Her feet pounded on the ground, each step vibrating up her spine and into her skull in an agonizing beat. A steel girder flashed past her on the left, and deep blue water churned far below.
Behind her, they advanced: A faceless mass of men, women, and children. Together, they belonged to every class and occupation known to man. They were the rich, the middle class, the poor, and the homeless. They used to be teachers, pastors, engineers, scientists, doctors, beggars, plumbers, homemakers, cleaners, cashiers, and artists. They came in every size, shape, and nationality, and had little in common except one thing: They were all dead.
Dead and hungry.
Driven by a microscopic host to make more of their kind.
More and more and more.
All of these thoughts raced through Dylan’s mind as she fled from the horde’s open maw. She had to get across the river. On the far side, safety beckoned. Solid ground and the open arms of Nick awaited, his expression fearful and anguished as he regarded her progress. “Run, Dylan. Run!”
She was two-thirds across when a terrific explosion filled her ears. A deep rumble traveled through the steel and concrete beneath her feet, and she almost lost her balance. A second blast followed the first, and then a third, and a fourth and a fifth.
Dylan pushed her body to the limits, reaching out to Nick with one beseeching hand. She was almost there. So close. “Nick!”
Rise of the Undead (Book 6): Apocalypse Z Page 5