Plentiful Poison

by Lybeck, Kyle

  Beyond the men were pop-up tents that housed the temporary situation rooms for the makeshift base.

  “Sorry guys, it looks like they still aren’t willing to talk or let me in to see anyone who could give us a statement on the current situation of what is going on here.”

  “That’s okay, Alex. We will check back with you for the ten o’clock news hour to see if you’ve made any progress. Now to Becky for your local forecast.”

  ---

  “Major General, this is quickly getting out of control,” General Stockton said over the sat phone from Washington, D.C.

  “General, we’re doing the best that we can. Every time we think we’re starting to get a handle on the situation, more pockets break out of the infected.”

  “How many soldiers do you have on the ground at this point?”

  “We have four hundred, with another two hundred due in the morning, sir.”

  “And how many casualties do you estimate at this point?”

  “So far we have twenty-two casualties on our side, and an estimated nine hundred civilian.”

  “Holy shit! That doesn’t sound contained in any way to me, Major General. It has only been two goddamn days!”

  “Trust me General, things could be a lot worse. Our boys have been doing a pretty damn good job so far putting a stop to what they could.”

  “Hear me on this, Major General. Every hour that this continues, I have to personally hold back the President’s hand from pressing the button to send in a nuke and take care of this situation. He wants this outbreak wiped off the face of the planet. At this point, more civilian casualties to deal with isn’t phasing him, he wants it stopped at any cost.”

  Cardiff took out a handkerchief and wiped his dripping brow.

  “General, sir, we just need more time. We’re already beginning to dial in on how to take them down quicker than yesterday.”

  “You have twenty-four more hours. At that point we will reassess the situation and if it hasn’t vastly improved, we are going to have to take drastic measures to contain this from spreading further.”

  “Understood, sir, tha-,” Major General Cardiff tried to get out his expression of gratitude, but all he heard was the dial tone before he could finish his sentence.

  ---

  “Aim better, get them in the head!”

  “I’m trying! For fuck sakes, I’m trying! They’re so damn fast!”

  M4 shots reverberated off the local businesses of downtown Longmont. Twelve ragers weaved their way through alleyways and around cars, dodging and taking bullets as they sought to obtain needed sustenance.

  “To your left, three more!”

  The soldier slid the barrel towards the three that were fast approaching. The M4 kicked against his shoulder as he released multiple shots into the brains of the ragers.

  “Got ‘em! Goddamn motherfuckers!”

  “Good, now get your ass over here, we have more coming from behind those cars!”

  The two soldiers were pinned in the middle of the street. The rest of their convoy had already been attacked and subsequently taken out by their fellow soldiers to spare them the agony of turning into members of the infected.

  Two more of the ragers dropped in the middle of the street, just as both soldiers’ M4’s clicked empty.

  “Shit,” each of them hissed.

  Before they could place another magazine in their respective weapons, three of the ragers heard the clicks and descended upon the brave souls hiding behind their Humvee.

  The first soldier had his head smashed in against the bumper, popping his left eyeball out of its socket. The rager lapped up brain matter and blood from the concrete before taking a mouthful of eye and chomping down.

  The second soldier received a strong bite on the left side of his neck, tearing out part of his jugular. Blood flew into the air, covering the windshield of their former vehicle. As the soldier turned, the artery sealed itself to prevent further blood loss. The ragers’ wounds were becoming more adept to new situations, once again adapting to create a stronger, more unstoppable creature.

  While one’s life ended instantly, the others’ full transformation was quick and he was welcomed into the pack that departed the bloody scene, looking for more prey.

  Chapter 4

  Seven days since viral injection

  On the move

  “Ted and Maggie, I’m speaking to you from a military vehicle that is currently on the move from our previous location days ago. I do apologize that we are without visuals at this point in time, but the cameraman… didn’t make it.”

  Audible gasps were heard back through the cell phone into the ear of the field reporter.

  “Alex, this is Ted. I’m so sorry to hear that news. Are you able to tell us what happened?”

  “We were trying desperately to escape our location in the Longmont area as it was becoming overrun by what the military has officially dubbed ‘ragers’, and he was caught in the mad rush to evacuate. I saw one of them attack him, but it was too late to do anything.”

  Maggie could tell from the strain in Alex’s voice that he was trying his best to hold it together under the circumstances.

  “What can you tell us about your situation at the moment?” Ted asked.

  “At this point in time, we are trying to find a safe zone to regroup and set up another mobile headquarters. Longmont was lost yesterday, along with Boulder and Broomfield. We’re hearing reports that Thornton is on the brink, and Denver is barely holding on. The goal for us now is to make it north to Loveland and set up a base there, but we may have to go as far as Fort Collins. Trying to stay ahead of this contagion is the biggest priority of the group now.”

  “Alex, is there anything new to report about the contagion itself?” Maggie asked.

  “Not much more than what has already been reported by the major news sources. Those who become infected are turning very quickly; murderous psychopaths who kill without remorse, eating parts of those they attack, and damn hard to exterminate. Their violent nature, mixed with their fast speed, are a frightening foe for the military. Their blood also looks to be spreading the contagion, this is actually something new we saw today. Someone got blood sprayed on them as they killed a rager only themselves to turn moments later. It’s as if the blood is some sort of poison.”

  “Jesus…” both news anchors could be heard over the line to Alex.

  “I’m sorry you guys, but I’m being told that I need to get off the phone and hunker down. We’re getting close to where we hope to set up the mobile base. If I can get back to you, I will.”

  ---

  “You, reporter guy, get your ass over here. Help us set this tent up, and keep your ears and eyes open for those fuckers.”

  Alex ran from the Humvee over to the soldier who was lengthening the poles for the makeshift headquarters. Other soldiers were running around, frantically trying to set everything up as quickly as possible. The convoy consisted of mostly military, twelve vehicles worth, and high ranking officials among them. Alex had met a few, but mainly was kept back with the other civilians they’d brought along.

  “Do you really think we’re going to be able to make a stand? Here?” Alex questioned.

  “I have no idea man, just help me get this together so I can start setting up a perimeter with the others.”

  Alex and the soldier raised the tent to its peak height, locking the legs in place and pulling back the plastic sheeting to convey an entryway inside.

  Satisfied, the soldier left Alex and ran off to secure the perimeter with others. Alex stood and watched all of the activity around him, making mental notes to report back later of the dire situation in Loveland.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Alex saw the Major General that he’d been introduced to the day before heading his direction. Ahead of him were other soldiers carrying tables and equipment towards the tent.

  As the Major General walked closer, Alex put on his game face.

  “Major General, c
an you tell me what we expect to gain by setting up a base camp here?”

  “I’m sorry sir, but I can’t answer any questions right now. We need to get in there and relay back to Washington our situation at hand.”

  The Major General and his entourage of soldiers then pushed past Alex and into the tent. Immediately tables were set up, maps were laid out, and a phone was brought over to Cardiff.

  “Sir, it’s the president.”

  Cardiff let out a heavy breath before answering the call. As he did, Alex made his way around to the side of the tent in hopes of hearing the conversation he was in no way allowed to hear as a civilian.

  “Mister President, sir, you have to understand we’re doing the best we can. These… ragers as everyone keeps calling them, they’re fast as hell. I’ve already lost seventy-two men, and we’re well over four-thousand on the civilian count.”

  “Holy shit,” Alex uttered.

  “If we had some sort of larger reinforcement group, or maybe were able to use some MOAB bombs. You have to understand, sir, that there are still uninfected civilians in these areas. We can’t just go destroying a major chunk of Colorado.”

  A pause engulfed the tent.

  “Yes, sir. I do believe we can still contain this thing if given the right resources. I fully disagree with the use of a nuclear option at this point. That would be a travesty to our state, our nation.”

  Jesus Christ, nukes? Alex thought to himself.

  “Yes sir, we are just south of Fort Collins. Loveland. I’ll be awaiting the troops and arms reinforcements. I know this looks very bad, but I give you my word, we can contain this before it spreads much further given those resources.”

  Alex could hardly believe what he was hearing. He had seen first-hand what happened in Longmont. There was no way of stopping these things. People turned into them too quickly, from bites or contact with blood or spit. Their ability to move extremely fast on top of everything else. The soldiers were having a hard enough time with a few dozen before they were forced to evacuate, and the situation could only be imagined as detrimental once they left the area.

  “God damn that man is pissed off,” Cardiff spoke to the others in the tent. “We need to come up with a game plan, and I mean right now! We are going to get another thousand soldiers by morning coming our way, along with several tanks. We will also have access to two B-52 Stratofortress’s to run along the corridor of the infected, as well as an MC-130 Combat Talon in hopes to strategically use a MOAB on the largest cluster of them.”

  “Major General, are you sure this is going to make a difference at this point? We’ve lost a largely populated area of Colorado already. There’s no telling how many more have even become infected since we’ve traveled up north.”

  “I do, Captain. We know how to kill these sumbitches. Straight shot to the head, fire. Dismemberment to slow them down works too. If we get more soldiers in here to help, we can start containing areas and fighting back down south. Clearing out cities is my main goal now. I want to save as many lives as we can before this gets extremely out of hand. Especially with the President suggesting a nuclear option for the second time as a means of cleansing the area. I can’t let that happen to American cities.”

  “We’ve lost so many already though, Major General. Maybe the President is right. The deaths of some to save the larger populace. I hate to say it, but I am beginning to think it might actually be a good option.”

  “I respect your words, Captain, but as of right now there is no way in hell I am going to let that happen without first taking a larger stance to contain this.”

  “May God help us all.”

  “God isn’t going to stop this, Captain. We are. Now figure out a way to have a few thousand Hazmat suits here by morning, we have to protect against any fluids that could lead to infection.”

  In the distance gunfire could be heard. A roar of screams, both human and the infected, echoed through the makeshift camp.

  “Shit,” Major General Cardiff spat, reaching for the M1911A1 on his hip.

  Chapter 5

  Ten days since viral injection

  Fort Collins, Colorado

  “I’m truly sorry, Becky, but we have to cut off your weather segment. I’m getting word now from our station manager that our field reporter, Alex, is on the phone with us. Alex are you there?”

  “Fucking hell am I glad to hear your voice, Ted.”

  A pin-drop silence filled the studio.

  “Alex, please watch the language, we’re live on the air right now.”

  “Ted, you have no idea what kind of disastrous, apocalyptic shit I’ve been through the last few days. I feel fully justified in my language.”

  Ted tried to remain unfazed by the outbursts of his field reporter.

  “Alex, can you tell us where you’re located? What has happened the past few days? Here at the studio we continue to hear conflicting reports from locals and the major news outlets as to what is actually going on.”

  “Oh, I can tell you exactly what is going on. The whole area is going to hell in a handbasket, Ted. The dead are running the streets, the military have been taken down to the bare minimum, and that was after all the reinforcements showed up two days ago. They tried to take the infected down with guns, tanks, and bombs, but they kept coming. More became infected, the blood of the dead and dying filled the streets. I’ve had to kill three of the ragers myself just to stay alive.

  “The night after we last spoke, they tracked us to our makeshift basecamp in Loveland. I have absolutely no idea either. Maybe they followed the vehicles, maybe they can smell human flesh from miles away. At this point, I don’t think anyone knows how these things function other than that they unabashedly kill everything living in their path.”

  “It sounds like we should all be glad you’re still alive and with us,” Maggie spoke, as the camera turned to her.

  “I’m amazed that I am, with all that has happened.”

  “So then where are you now, Alex?” The question being asked again to him, this time by Maggie.

  “Three vehicles of survivors escaped from Loveland unhurt, and made their way to Fort Collins. We’d heard that the President was sending even more reinforcements to meet us there, to help combat the infected from coming further north. Unfortunately Fort Collins was also in the throes of being overrun. Two of the vehicles were quickly attacked in a mass swarm of the ragers. The Humvee I was in managed to escape down a back alley, before we exited and found an apartment complex to hole up in.”

  “Damn, Alex. I can’t believe you’ve been through all of that in just the past few days.” Ted said, a sound of amazement in his normally tranquil on-air voice.

  “To tell you the truth, Ted, I’m surprised I haven’t been through more at this point. I now stand atop that apartment complex, looking down at the city. Cars are on fire, filling the air with black smoke. I’m sure you can hear the faint sounds of gunshots and screams. Those from the vehicle I was in are up on the roof with me. Others from the city are down below trying to keep control, and losing miserably.”

  “Is there any military presence left near you, Alex? Any word of others coming to help?”

  “There is a Major General with me, and he has been in contact off and on with the President. So far though, it sounds like the reinforcements that were here, have either been overtaken or they themselves self-evacuated when they saw the situation in Fort Collins. We might just be on our own now.”

  “Alex, please hang in there. There has to be help on the way. We can try and alert someone to your location.” Maggie said, in the most hopeful of voices.

  “I appreciate it, Maggie. At this point, I’m not sure what anyone could do for us.”

  An audible sigh was heard over the speakers in the studio.

  “I’m sorry you guys, but I have to go. The Major General needs to use my phone to call the President and let him know our current situation. I hope to get back to you soon, but if I don’t, please put a good memorial
piece up for me on a future broadcast.” Alex half-heartedly chuckled, trying to bring some lightness to the impending situation.

  ---

  “Yes, Mister President, I’m still alive. We made it all the way to Fort Collins before barricading ourselves atop an apartment building. I think we’re safe for now, but then again I thought we were safe a few days ago.”

  “Major General, my hands are tied. I had to use all resources at hand, and this thing still isn’t contained. From the last I’d heard, we’ve lost everything from Fort Collins to Pueblo, and Grand Junction to Fort Morgan. There are no signs of it stopping, or slowing for that matter, with all that has been thrown at it. I had to call it in.”

  Cardiff released a heavy sigh from deep in his lungs. He held the phone at arm’s length and spewed profanities in the other direction. Slowly he put the phone back to his ear.

  “So that’s it then? It’s come down to the final option on the table?”

  “I’m afraid so, Major General. My heart breaks for the state of Colorado, but we here in Washington felt there was no other way.”

  “It has been a pleasure serving under your command, Mister President. I only wish we could have put this outbreak to bed sooner.”

  “Thank you, and I wish that had been the case as well.”

  Cardiff removed the phone from against his ear and ended the call. Placing his head in his hands, he finally let loose with his emotions as the tears flowed through his fingers.

  Alex had been over by the edge looking at the carnage down below. He walked back over to Cardiff after seeing the reaction the phone call had on him.

  “Major General, it’s okay, we’re going to make it out of here somehow. We can’t give up hope now.”

  Cardiff laughed and sobbed at the same time, almost causing himself a bout of hiccups in the process.

  “Alex, I wish that were true. The President has given up on the situation, he’s called in the end all plan. Most of the state is now overrun, and there really isn’t any other way to get it back. Our only hope now is to contain it before the ragers spread their infection further out to other states. That is, if they haven’t already.”