Infection Z [Books 1-3]

by Chesla, Gary

  “I heard it was going to be spaghetti,” Pete replied. “At least that was what Mason told me.”

  Rogers laughed, “So you guys keep an eye on what Reynolds is doing too.”

  “Hey, our guys spent the last year eating nothing but MREs,” Pete smiled. “This is as close to home cooking as we have had in a long time.”

  Davis laughed, “At Fallon we didn’t have to eat MREs very often, but the food there wasn’t much better.”

  “Why, what was wrong with Reynolds cooking at Fallon?” Pete asked.

  “At Fallon, Reynolds worked at the Post Office,” Rogers replied. “No one knew he could cook until we came here. When Doc assigned us all jobs, he made Reynolds the cook. If we would have only known back at Fallon.”

  Pete laughed.

  “Come on Cherv,” Davis sighed impatiently.

  Rogers looked over at Davis and was about to tell him to relax, but as he turned, a look of shock spread over his face.

  All the men turned to look at the glass door next to Davis when a loud thud sounded as something struck the door.

  “Holy Shit!” Davis yelled and jumped off his seat to get away from his door when he saw the two rotting, bloody faces that had just crashed against the glass.

  Bloody streaks spread across the door as the faces slid across the door.

  What teeth the two ugly faces still had left began to break and stick to the bloody streaks on the door as the two emaciated bodies pounded their arms and faces against the door.

  “Where the hell did they come from?” Rogers yelled.

  Pete stared at the two zombies that were frantically trying to break through the door, then he turned and looked across the runway.

  “We have more problems on the way,” Pete yelled.

  “No Shit,” Rogers replied as he looked back at Pete and he saw what Pete was seeing.

  Rogers grabbed Davis’s arm to get his attention and pointed out the back of the helicopter, past Pete.

  Coming across the runway, staggering awkwardly but determined, was a large mob of infected bodies that looked like they all belonged in a morgue.

  “Guys, we need to do something fast,” Pete said. “How long would it take you to take those barrels off the skids?”

  “It took us an hour to bolt them on,” Davis replied. “We didn’t want them falling off when we had a full load. It would probably take us twenty minutes to get them off if they were empty. As heavy as they are loaded, I don’t know?”

  “We don’t have that much time,” Pete said.

  “We can’t stay here, when those others get here, they will break in through the windows or roll us over,” Rogers said. “We need to get out of here.”

  Davis looked around, “They are coming from all directions, they will have us surrounded in another two or three minutes. Whatever we are going to do, we better make up our minds fast. I suggest we make a run for it.”

  “Where the hell would we run to?” Rogers asked. “They seem to be coming out of everywhere, I think we are going to have to fight our way out of this.”

  “How about we climb up on the tanker?” Davis suggested. “They can’t climb, and we can pick them off one by one until Doc sends help.”

  “Too many unknowns and too little ammo,” Pete said. “I’ve got an idea. Davis, open your door and knock those two bastards away from the helicopter. Rogers, start the engine.”

  “But we’re too heavy to get off the ground,” Rogers shouted.

  “As soon as Davis knocks those two away from the side of the helicopter,” Pete said, “We each lean out and put three slugs into the barrel below our doors.”

  “That will blow us to high heavens,” Rogers said.

  “It’s not gasoline it’s airplane fuel, gun shots won’t ignite it like gasoline,” Pete said. “Trust me, just do it!”

  “Are you sure about that?” Davis asked.

  “On three,” Pete yelled as he pulled his sidearm. “One, Two, Three, Now!”

  Davis slammed the door open, knocking the two zombies to the ground, as Rogers opened his door.

  The men fired three shots each into the barrel below their doors, slammed the doors shut and sighed with relief when the helicopter didn’t explode.

  “Start the engine,” Pete said as he watched the fuel drain out of the barrel on the right side of the helicopter, forming an expanding pool on the ground around the helicopter.

  Rogers started the engine as the mob of the dead reached the helicopter and began to pound against the sides.

  “Give it more power,” Pete yelled as he watched bloody hand prints spread across the canopy.

  Rogers pushed the throttle to full power, causing the engine to roar and stir up dust which began to stick to the blood and black out the lower half of the canopy.

  The helicopter rose only a few feet off the ground.

  “We’re still too heavy,” Rogers shouted above the sound of the engine and the fists that pounded against the sides of the helicopter.

  “We’re off the ground enough to move, push us out on the runway,” Pete shouted.

  Rogers moved the stick forward and the helicopter began to slowly move forward through the out stretched hands and away from the infected mob that was attacking them.

  “That’s good,” Pete shouted. “The infected are trying to follow, but we’re putting a little space between them and us. This will buy us some time for more fuel to drain out of the tanks.”

  “It better drain a lot faster,” Rogers replied. “We only have a few hundred feet before the wreckage on the runway blocks our way.”

  Rogers pulled back on the stick as they approached the wreckage of the large burned out shells of what had been two 747s and stopped their forward progress.

  The three men turned and watched as the gruesome mob of the dead approached the helicopter again.

  But as the mob reached the helicopter, the craft began to slowly gain altitude and was soon out of reach of the out stretched arms of the dead and then they were soon above the wreckage on the runway.

  “Take us slowly away from here,” Pete said. “When things feel normal again, take us up a few hundred feet and let’s go home.”

  The radio crackled and Chervy’s voice came over the air.

  “Rogers, are you there?” Chervy asked.

  “Barely,” Rogers replied as he used his free hand and picked up the radio.

  “Doc said to pump half the fuel back into the tanker and come home,” Chervy said. “Doc said we will outfit the other helicopters and use two teams to bring the fuel back.”

  “I’m afraid we are going to have to outfit this helicopter again too,” Rogers replied.

  “I don’t understand,” Chervy said.

  “Are you in front of the computer?” Rogers asked.

  “I will be in a few minutes,” Chervy replied. “I’m in the tunnel coming back from Doc’s quarters.”

  “You’ll understand when you pull up a view of the tanker,” Rogers said. “Call me back when you’re at your station.”

  As the fuel continued to drain out of the barrels, the helicopter felt lighter and began to respond normally as Rogers moved the control stick, he took it up to the regular cruising altitude and headed back towards Granite Mountain. A few minutes later the radio sprang to life.

  “Where the hell did they come from,” Chervy yelled over the air. “Where are you guys? Are you OK?”

  Chapter 7

  May 10th, Cheyenne Mountain.

  Johnson slowly began to regain consciousness.

  The first thing he noticed was that he couldn’t move his arms very far away from the sides of his body.

  His eyes shot open as a sense of panic shot through him.

  “What the hell!” Johnson said out loud.

  “Relax buddy,” Larsen said putting his hand on Johnson’s shoulder. “You’re in the hospital.”

  Johnson looked around as the inside of the hospital room slowly came into focus.

  He began t
o relax as he looked up and recognized Larsen standing over him.

  “How did I get in here?” Johnson asked.

  “From what I understand, you had an accident and flattened your nose against your right cheek,” Larsen replied. “They had to operate to make you look half way human again.”

  “How long have I been here?” Johnson asked.

  “I believe you have been here for about five hours,” Larsen replied.

  “Five hours?” Johnson replied. “The last thing I remember, Bennet and I were walking back to the facility after the helicopter crashed. Bennet must have brought me here?”

  “Bennet?” Larsen ask looking confused. “I heard they found you lying on the ground outside the entrance. How did you get outside?”

  “I went with Sergeant Daniels and his team to the powerplant to see if they could find any way to get the power plant back on line,” Johnson replied.

  “I’m not aware of anyone being sent down to the power plant,” Larsen said. “Whatever happened, you were apparently injured pretty bad. Maybe you should just rest for a while and let the anesthetic wear off. You are probably still confused. We can talk about this later when you head is clear.”

  “But….” Johnson began to protest.

  “Just relax Johnson,” Larsen said again. “You’ve just been operated on. I believe they restrained your arms so you wouldn’t pull the bandages off your nose while you were unconscious. We can figure it all out later.”

  Johnson was quiet for a few minutes, then asked another question.

  “I’ve been out for five hours,” he said then asked. “Did the president make it or did I imagine that too?”

  Larsen smiled.

  “The president landed a few hours ago,” Larsen replied. “In fact, he already has had two meetings. He addressed the Captain and his officers first, then he held a general meeting with everyone to explain why he is here.”

  “What did he say?” Johnson asked.

  “Well, basically he confirmed the rumors we’ve heard,” Larsen replied. “Somehow a lethal virus started a plague that spread across the country in a matter of only a few days. He said unfortunately the plague spread so fast, that most of the country had become infected before the CDC had a chance to determine what it was or develop a vaccine against it. The President described it as a wave of death that washed over the country, killing everyone in its path.

  He said the country had been devastated and that the government, so far, had been helpless to stop it.”

  “I’m surprised he was so blunt,” Johnson said. “I didn’t expect they would tell us the truth about what is happening outside.”

  “The President said he had come to Cheyenne Mountain, along with the best medical minds still available, to work on a cure for the virus in the hopes to save what was left of the country and its people. He said that his medical experts will be working day and night at the hospital until a solution can be found.”

  “Did he say what would happen if they can’t find a cure?” Johnson asked.

  “Someone did ask that question,” Larsen replied. “The President said that if his men could not find a cure, the people here at Cheyenne Mountain could be mankind’s last stand. The President said that as far as he was aware, there were very few pockets of life left in the country. He said he was sorry for the loss that everyone had suffered, but he needed our help and support if anyone was going to survive. The President told us a lot of stories about what had happened around the country, but I’m just giving you the short version because of your condition. When you’re feeling better, we can go into a lot more detail.”

  Johnson closed his eyes to think for a few minutes.

  “I’ll come back later,” Larsen said. “We can talk tomorrow. You look like you’re in too much pain right now.”

  “I do feel like shit,” Johnson smiled slightly. “but I have one question I would like to ask before you go.”

  “OK,” Larsen replied. “What did you want to know?”

  “Did the President say what happens to the people that become infected?” Johnson asked.

  “They die,” Larsen replied.

  “Then what?” Johnson asked.

  “I guess they get buried,” Larsen answered, “I guess they get buried if there are enough people left to bury them. Why, what did you expect to hear me say?”

  “It sounds like the President told everyone only part of the truth,” Johnson replied.

  “What do you mean?” Larsen asked.

  Johnsen opened his eyes and looked at Larsen.

  “You told me earlier today what you had overheard and asked me to keep quiet about what you told me,” Johnson said. “I’m going to tell you what I saw today, and I would like you to keep it to yourself for a day or two, or until I get out of here. I’m sure you will because you think I’m hallucinating right now, but I’, going to tell you anyhow.”

  Larsen laughed. “I didn’t say you were hallucinating, I just said I don’t believe you are thinking clearly now so soon after your operation.”

  “You might change your mind about that after I tell you,” Johnson grinned. “You’ll probably think I’m completely out of my mind.”

  “Tell me and I’ll try to keep an open mind,” Larsen smiled.

  “Today I went with Sergeant Daniels and his unit. They were the unit that came in to Cheyenne Mountain after we arrived and mostly have kept to themselves. Today I found out why they have been kept away from everyone else,” Johnson said. “Their unit had been out in the field fighting the results of the virus before coming here. Sergeant Daniels told me that the men at Cheyenne Mountain had been kept in the dark about was going on outside because they didn’t want us thinking about anything else but preparing to take over NORAD in the event the Russians tried to pull anything while our country was dealing with the virus.”

  “I guess that makes sense. Besides there isn’t much we can do to help in here and they didn’t want us distracted.” Larsen replied. “Was Daniel’s unit a medical unit?”

  “No, they are a combat unit,” Johnson replied. “They were out fighting the people that had become infected by the virus.”

  “Why would they be fighting with those poor bastards?” Larsen asked.

  “Let me tell you what I saw today,” Johnson replied. “I went with Daniel’s unit down to the power plant like I said before. Daniels said the Captain wanted him to go down and see if he could find a way to get the plant back on line. When we arrived, we landed the helicopter on the roof of the main building. After they blew the door on the roof, we went down the steps to work our way down to the main control room. We were all armed with rifles, body armor and headlights. Bennet’s and my job was to bring up the rear and clear all the rooms after the main group had gone by. Let me preface the next part of the story with the fact that everyone in that building had been infected with the virus and were all dead.

  However, now here comes the crazy part, when we opened the doors to each of the rooms, the infected or what was left of them came rushing out at us. Bennet explained to me that the virus had killed the bodies, but some killer instinct remained in their brain, driving their dead bodies to attack the living. He said the only way to stop the infected was to shoot them in the head and kill the brain.”

  “Now I’m beginning to think you are hallucinating,” Larsen grinned, but he urged Johnson to continue.

  “Bennet said if any of the walking dead would bite you, you die and become one of the walking dead too,” Johnson continued. “Daniels told me that the entire country has been overrun with millions of the walking dead. He said the President was coming here because it wasn’t possible for anyone to survive in what was left of the country. He said the dead are swarming everywhere and it is impossible to kill them all because there are just too many of the dead out there.”

  “The President told us about the virus killing everyone,” Larsen said. “If what you are telling me is true, why wouldn’t he have told us that. After all, if e
veryone out there is dying, what difference would it make. What reason would he have for not telling us about this matter.”

  “The hell if I know,” Johnson replied. “But the reason our helicopter crashed was because one of the men turned into one of the walking dead on the way back and attacked the pilot and the Sergeant. Bennett and I barely got out of the helicopter before they got us too. I know you are having a hard time believing me, hell, I lived through it today and I can barely believe it. But let me tell you that it did happen and I’m not crazy or hallucinating.”

  “That’s a big story to swallow,” Larsen said.

  “And the reason I’m tied up in this bed isn’t so I won’t tear off my bandages,” Johnson added. “The reason I’m tied up is because they are afraid I’m going to turn into a walking zombie and they didn’t want me running around biting people.”

  “Now you’re starting to sound crazy,” Larsen grinned.

  “I agree,” Johnson replied. “But keep this to yourself until we find out a little more about why the President or the Captain hasn’t told us about this. I think you should try to find Bennet and talk to him. His unit is quartered down in Section D if I remember right. If you can’t find him, see if you can find someone else from his unit. They were all out fighting the dead before being sent here. They said they came here because there was nowhere else left to go.”

  Larsen just nodded.

  “I know it doesn’t make any sense to keep all of us in the dark about the infected turning into zombies, we’re all screwed no matter how you look at it,” Johnson said. “But be careful who you say anything about this to. You don’t want the wrong people to find out that you know any of this.”