Dinner was prepared and everyone came into the mess hall filled their plates and sat down to eat. Can I have everyone’s attention please? I called out. “Due to the recent events up north and at River District hospital we have decided that we need to break into the FBI headquarters and search for answers. A team of six will be leaving in five days and travel south to Ohio, then thru Pennsylvania, east into Maryland, and then south through Virginia into Washington D.C. where we will have to hang low on the outskirts of town and establish a small base and then infiltrate the FBI Headquarters to see what information they have and how they are tied to this zombie infestation. We will also have the team head to town and we need to get identical suits, shoes, and sunglasses” I explained. We already have four members going Bruce, Rus, Don, and I plus we need two more volunteers if anyone wants to volunteer I asked. Mike and his son Jon stood up and announced we will go and help you find the answers we all are looking for. Also so you know we may be gone for months while we search for answers and infiltrate their headquarters undetected I mentioned. We are still going Mike answered. Ok then tomorrow we head to town to get supplies for our six hundred mile journey and the remaining people here at the outpost need to set up more perimeter safety measures Rus announced. We need someone to dig a trench all the way around the outpost except through the road and it needs to be eight feet wide by eight feet deep while everyone else gathers thick branches or head to the lumbar store again and they need to be at least six feet in length Rus said. Then they need to be made into spears like a pit Rus added. After we finished eating some took their turn on the catwalk while others went to sleep. Rus and Bev retreated to their room for a night filled with rough sex that would keep the rooms around them up for a while, Bruce headed to the hospital where Abby was almost recovered from her injures of falling from the wall and only had a little over two months left before their child would be born, Don who seemed like he never slept went to the armory to sneak the boxes to the garage and started to disassemble the miniguns that were on the Spyder, and Christi and I retreated to the command center. Once we entered the command center Christi who was walking in front of me turned around and slapped me across the face. Tears filling up her eyes she fought to get the words out she wanted to say. Since we have started this outpost you haven’t been there when I need you, our kids have been turned into those things and you come and go as you please on adventures Christi screamed. I have been trying to make sure you and I survive and I have been searching for answers to what happen to the kids I said. I also have never, not been there for you I have been trying to help who we can to make sure if I am not here that you have help in case we get attacked and I am not here to protect you I said with a raised voice. I love you more than anything in this world Christi, you are my life and so are the kids they need us right now to be strong I said pulling her body up against mine. I will save our children from this terrible fate and then we can help everyone overcome this outbreak I said. I ran my hand through her hair and kissed her like it was our first kiss it was long and passionate. We then made love all night long until the sun rose over the horizon. As the sun broke over the wall of the compound I carried her down to our room and laid her in bed, kissed her on the forehead, and went to the garage to get ready for our journey to town.
Don like I said who never sleeps w as still wide awake working in the garage. So Don what did you do all night? I asked. Well I took both the miniguns off the Spyder and installed them both to the wall near the main door of the compound and I started making the raised platform for the back of the truck Don said. It will have three seats to look out over the front or rear of the truck since they will be on a swivel and there will be storage underneath the platform Don said. I also took out one side of the benches so we could install two cots so we could get rest in pairs Don added. I starting giving Don a hand screwing the cot’s to the wall of the truck so they wouldn’t slide around. It was a quick job and within twenty minutes the cots were installed. We then put the lift up in the bed of the truck so Don could make sure it was at the right height and while he started to screw it in place while I worked on the storage compartment that was going to be underneath. Since we were caring explosives and ammunition I wanted to make sure it was a secured area. I found some metal doors in our supplies we had picked up over the past few months that would work perfect to hold everything in place. While I was installing the doors on the storage area Don was fastening down the second chair to the raised platform. Once I finished up with the doors Rus arrived at the garage and asked when we wanted to leave for town. As soon as I finish the last chair and we get some breakfast Don said. We finished up the changes Don wanted to do to the truck and headed off to eat some breakfast. We finished up breakfast, got our gear and headed for the garage. Rus and Don jumped on the Ural while Bruce, Jon, Mike, and I climbed into the HUMVEE. We made our way the half hour drive east it was to town and headed for the nearest tailor shop we could find. We drove around a two block radius once we found the tailor shop to make sure we were not in any immediate danger. We parked our vehicles and entered the shop. Rus watch the back entrance for anything and I’ll watch the front door while Don, Mike, Jon, and Bruce get suits and remember to get them a little bigger and we can have someone fit them when we get back to the compound I said. Once they picked out their black suits Rus and I grabbed ones as well. Something is missing Rus said. We need to head to the mall and find sunglasses too Rus announced, cause that’s what we are missing. We made our way to mall where we saw looters raiding anything they could take. It was not unusual to see looters or other communities searching for food or supplies. Since we had established our outpost we found a few other communities around the area but everyone kept to themselves. Usually the looters worked in small packs of two to five people taking and robbing each other for the right just to have the most stuff. Jon and Mike stayed with the vehicle once we arrived while the rest of us searched the mall and small kiosks to see if we could find sunglasses similar to the ones the FBI agents were wearing. This mall has been pretty cleared out hasn’t it I said. Looks like the closer communities and looters have taken almost everything so far Bruce said. Look Don said pointing to a wooden crate that no one had opened or taken yet. Sunglass Depot was stamped on the side of the crate. Well looks like God is finally helping us out in our search I said. We busted open the crate to reveal a brand new display full of sunglasses. We grabbed twelve pairs out so that way we could have two each. Suddenly we heard gunfire coming from outside so we ran out to find Mike shooting the minigun on the HUMVEE. As we exited the mall more bullets were shot in our direction and we took cover behind a small wall that enclosed an old flower bed outside the main entrances to the food court. Do you see anything Don? Bruce asked. Looks like either some looters or another community has wage a war on us for coming into their territory Don said. I can see about ten people firing by those flipped over cars by the south entrance Don added. I hate when they do this the fight is to save or stop those zombies not attacking the survivors I said. Are we going to drive off like usual or are we going to have to fight this time? Rus asked. Normally if we were fired on by others we would just drive off and avoid the conflict since we were not out to hurt anyone just getting supplies, but this time we weren’t in our vehicles so I think this time blood would have to be shed for us to leave. Come on let’s go to the other entrance and see if we can flank them from the other side I said. We went down the food court entrance hallway to avoid being seen through the huge glass window that covered the front of the mall. When we got to the south entrance we peeked around the corner to see three groups of people firing at the HUMVEE. Two groups of three and one of four people armed with heavy assault rifles. Well what’s the best plan of action here? Bruce asked. I pulled my bow out while Rus pulled out his glocks and gave one to Don. I think I can take the three on the right, Bruce you use your M16 on the three on the left, and Don and Rus go for the four in the center and once you’re in place wait for my signal I said. Wh
at’s the signal? Don asked. Wait for my arrow to fly I said with a wink. I watched them move into position and waited until they were set. I pulled the arrow back waiting for the right moment and then it came. One of the younger members ran out of ammo and was getting help from one of the older guys. I let the arrow fly from my bow and before it reached its target I heard the gunfire open from everyone else. The arrow pierced threw the younger members chest and into the older members head as he was crouched down helping him reload. After I let my arrow fly I reached for one of my axes and threw it end over end toward the other member in the group I took aim for and the axe buried into the side of his head just behind his ear and sank four inches though his skull. Don and Rus fired two shots each and that was all it took to take down the four members that opposed them. Bruce fired his M16 in a straight line riddling the three members full of bullets. Mike? Rus screamed out it’s over. The minigun fire stopped and we came out from behind the flipped cars and made our way back to our vehicles. We packed up and made our way back to the outpost.
Once we returned to the outpost. Jon, Mike, Rus, and Bruce took patrol duty on the catwalk while Don and I went to start packing the truck up. Don and I grabbed ammo, arrows, sleeping bags, pillows, the suits, sunglasses, cases of water, and some can goods and put them in the storage area under the lift. Don then drove the truck over to fill it with gas and then parked it in the garage. Meanwhile Chris was hard at work digging the trench around the entire outpost twenty feet away from the wall while everyone in the outpost worked on the spears using the remaining two by fours we had and branches from the tree line on the west side of the property. Chris was making very good head way so once Don and I finished with the truck we headed outside the wall to start putting the spears in the ground. We went out with the cement mixer and lowered it down in the trench. We also grabbed some long boards because the idea we had was to space the spears eight inches apart and hold them in place with one foot of cement. Since it was quick drying cement we decided to work in small sections and leave the boards in place so the cement could hold while we started the next section. We had eight foot long boards so we nailed one into the center of another to form two small sections to work on at a time. It worked a lot quicker that way cause Don and I start building a ton of T’s and laying them out. Then some of the ladies came out with the spears so Don and I starting mixing the cement and pouring one section at a time and the ladies laid out the spears in the wet cement. Chris finished the trench around the west and north part of the outpost and decided he would complete the south and east the next day so he came and helped Don and I with the cement. We worked hard the rest of the day and had to turn the spot lights on for a little bit to finish the outside part of the trench with cement and spears. We got up around seven the next morning and started getting to work on the other half of the cement and spears while Chris took the excavator across the street and started working on the trench. Most of the cement from the night before was set so it was easier to space the spears. We started in the same spot as the day before to give the rest of the cement time to finish setting before we got to the other side of the outpost. It went even faster since we just had to repeat the work we did the day before and it took us about seven hours and a lunch break to complete the cement and spears. Don and I headed across the street and started building more T’s and laying them out the same way we did before. We got all the T’s in place while the ladies started setting up the remaining spears. Don and I got the cement mixer and started laying the concrete the same way we did before. We went around one side which took about three hours so when we went back the quick drying cement had already firmed up. So one team started spacing the spears in the cement using the T as a standing point and inserted the spears in the concrete to set. It took another three hours to finish laying the concrete in the west/north trench and around that time the guys finished their shift on the cat walk. We all headed to the mess hall for supper and discussed the finishing touches that needed to be done before we left in two days. Well Rus and I have night watch tomorrow night so I was thinking we would leave when our shift was over and we could sleep first and do things in shifts I said. Bruce and Don can start driving, Jon and Mike can take watch on the lift, and Rus and I will sleep. Then we can rotate positions every six hours with us getting up and driving, Bruce and Don rotating to watch, and Mike and Jon could sleep and rest. So we will be up for twelve hours and rest for six? Jon asked. Yes, the trip will take a little longer because we will need to scout our route as we go and since we can’t drive over fifty five in that army truck I said. Tomorrow we will double check everything and make the final preparations.
The next morning Don got Bruce to help him install a mini satellite dish he was able to set up with a CB radio so we could directly communicate with the outpost and they installed a larger dish to the roof near the command center. Jon and Mike spent most of the morning with Jennifer before heading to the armory to pack additional ammo, knives, sniper rifles, and a few other guns. The rest of the compound finished the east and south trenches while starting to lay the cement the same way Don and I had done the day before. Rus and I went to pack extra supplies for the trip, mostly consisting of power bars, beef jerky, cigarettes, and juice. Then we spent a little time with our ladies then lying down to rest before our shift on the catwalk. Everything was all set to go I grabbed a couple travel mugs of coffee and met Rus on the catwalk. We stood at the south east corner of the cat walk where after months I finally asked Rus what had happen to his wife. “It was the morning after the bar I awoke out in the garage. I was out there tinkering around like I do most nights after I got back home from the bar when I heard a loud boom and saw a white flash. I assumed a storm was rolling in but I think I passed out shortly after I saw that white flash. I went into the house once I got up and that’s when I saw the most horrifying thing every! As Rus starting choking up a little he said I found my three kids hovering over their mother. Her body ripped open from pelvis to her throat and they were eating her internal organs. Whatever happened between leaving the bar and waking up had turned the kids into these horrible zombies and they feasted on their mother while she was sleeping on the couch I believe, since I didn’t see any signs that there was a struggle or that she had but up any type of fight.” Rus sipped on his coffee staring out into the night filled field. I am so sorry Rus I had no idea I said. Changing the subject I said funny we are going to Washington to try and stop this outbreak tomorrow being October 30th isn’t it? I said. Rus put a half smile on his face. Yeah Devil’s night that is pretty ironic. We had a little laugh and started patrolling the walls we were assigned to and the night passed quickly. The sun rose over the horizon and we were relieved of duty at seven in the morning. We headed to the mess hall and made breakfast for the whole outpost then headed for the garage. It was reassuring having so much done in the past two months before we made the decision to head for Washington D.C. and look for answers. Rus and I pulled Chris aside since we had a couple of extra projects we needed done before we left then we kissed our love ones and said goodbye as we jumped in the truck and drove off in the distance on our way to Ohio first.
Chapter 14
We headed for the highway and made our way south toward Detroit. As we drove south we could see other much smaller communities built around different towns. Most of the communities looked destroyed as if there was a territory war or had grass and trees grown wild like they had been abandoned. It took an hour and a half to reach Detroit instead of the normal hour since we had to drive the heavy army truck slower. The town was in shambles. There were buildings with blackened windows so there were obvious fires, walls riddled with bullets, windows shattered, and cars flipped everywhere. We drove through seeing a few zombies roaming the streets but no one that wasn’t affected. When we got to the outskirts of Detroit we found another garbage truck with Ontario plates so Bruce pulled over to check it out. Don and Bruce got out and looked over the truck. They opened the back cautiously since last time
toxic waste spilled out and melted Brent’s skin off his body. Don stood on the side operating the control panel and started to raise the bed of the garbage truck. The back end of the truck rose up and the contents started to dump all over the street. Suddenly in the middle of all the garbage that poured out the back two large barrels came rolling out. Bruce walked over to one of the barrels and hit the top of the barrel with the butt of his M16 rifle and knocked the lid off and out poured that bright green toxic waste again. I wanted to make sure it had the same contents Bruce said. Look on the barrel Don said as he pointed to the writing on the side. You better go wake up Rus and Bryan they are going to want to see this Bruce said. Don ran to the back of the truck and started waking Rus and me up. What’s going on I asked. We found something you both need to see. Rus and I got up, threw our boots back on, and jumped out of the truck to a huge pile of garbage. So what is going on? Rus asked. We spotted this garbage truck so I wanted to stop and investigate it Bruce said. We opened the back and found more toxic waste Don said. Look at this barrel Don pointed. “DuKoppus nuclear power plant” was written on the side of the barrel. Well I guess if we can get access to a working computer with internet maybe we can find out who this DuKoppus is Rus said. Well now we have a name to go with the toxic waste company but let’s get going so we can be in Ohio by mid day I said. Rus and I went to lay back down and Bruce and Don got back in the cab and we started down the road again. It took almost two hours to reach the Ohio state border with the slow driving truck and all the cars left abandoned or flipped over in the road that made the highway an obstacle course.
Government Z (Book 1): The Beginning Page 12