by Jake Bible
The Doctor climbed into the back of the ATV as Masters fired up the engines. Mathew double-checked the auto-carbines’ clips, stowing his and Masters’ in the rack between the front seats.
Masters gunned the engine and the ATV burst from the hangar. Themopolous hung on, white knuckled as they sped over the earthen terrain, past Rachel’s mech, heading out to the funeral pyre.
***
Bisby let the water run over him, washing the filth from his body.
“Biz?” Harlow’s voice called from the shower room door. “You in here?”
Bisby didn’t respond.
“Capreze’s looking for you,” Harlow continued. “He’s pretty pissed you didn’t report to him before cleaning up.”
Bisby sighed. “Tell him I’ll be right there.”
Harlow stayed put. “Did he suffer?”
Bisby tensed. “Yes, Harlow, he suffered. But only until he blew his own brains out.”
Bisby shut off the water, grabbed a towel and pushed past Harlow.
Harlow slumped against the wall, slowly lowering to the floor, fighting back the tears.
***
The ATV skidded to a halt, kicking up sand and dirt, coating the pyre and Stanislaw’s body.
“Jeezus, Masters! Show some fucking respect!” Mathew yelled.
“Don’t even start with me, Jespers,” Masters barked, grabbing his carbine as he climbed from the ATV. He offered Themopolous a hand.
“Thanks,” she muttered, still shook up by the wild ride from the base.
Themopolous started towards the corpse. Mathew grabbed his carbine and followed, Masters right behind him.
“You worried Bisby was wrong? That Stan might come back?” Mathew asked Themopolous.
When the three saw the body, they knew Stanislaw wasn’t coming back.
***
“I am positive that you know debriefing protocol is to see me before you shower, pilot,” Capreze growled at Bisby as the pilot stood at attention. “The sooner you report, the less you forget.”
“With all due respect sir, I’ll never forget today,” Bisby responded through clenched teeth, his anger barely contained.
“I do not doubt that, pilot, but that is not your call to make. Understand me?”
Bisby ground his teeth together, trying to hold his tongue.
“I asked if you understand-“
“I SHIT MY FUCKING SUIT SIR!” Bisby roared at Capreze.
Stunned, Capreze sat down in his chair.
***
Doctor Themopolous didn’t bother opening her medical kit, she knew the cause of death. Masters looked over her shoulder, grimacing at the sight.
“Did he do that?” Masters asked.
“It appears so. I’d say cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.”
“What the fuck happened out there?”
“I’m sure we’ll all find out soon enough once Bisby makes his report to the Commander.”
“Must have been some crazy shit to take out Stanislaw…”
“Hey Guys,” Mathew called a few feet from Masters and Themopolous.
Masters turned, raising his rifle. “Whatcha got Matty?”
“Incoming. Half mile out.”
***
Bisby, seated in front of Capreze’s desk, lifted his head from his hands, eyes burning. “That’s it.”
Capreze, fingers steepled in front of him, sighed. “That’s not good.”
Uncontrollably, Bisby laughed. A short, harsh bark of a laugh. “Ya think?”
“What I mean, Biz,” Capreze stood. “Is that the behavior the deader was exhibiting sounds frighteningly like adaptation.”
Bisby watched as the Commander paused, then continued. “The zombies have some reasoning ability, but no impulse control. They don’t hesitate…”
“Sir?” Bisby asked, exhaustion fighting for his mind.
“Hmmm…?” Capreze muttered, lost in thought.
“Stanislaw…?”
Reality ripped Capreze from his musing.
***
“My God, how did they get here so fast?” Masters called out, placing a fresh clip in his carbine and taking aim. He squeezed the trigger, watching as several yards away three zombie heads exploded.
Mathew flung a grenade at the approaching undead, hoping his timing was right. Within a second the grenade exploded sending pieces of zombies high into the air. He looked behind him back towards the base. He tapped his com.
“Hey Rache? Sure could use some help out here,” he said, staring at the unmoving mech still positioned by the hangar.
“Hey Rache? You in there?”
***
“Rache? Rachel!” Mathew shouted over his com. Rachel pulled herself from her grief.
“What Matty?” she answered weakly.
“Um, are you watching this at all?!?” Mathew continued shouting. “We are about to get overrun here!”
Rachel shook her head violently, painfully. She checked her scanners and gasped. “Oh, God! I’m so sorry! I’ll be there in one minute!”
She set her mech to full power, not bothering with the motor drive and began to run the thing towards the pyre. “Hold on!”
“That’s the idea! Hurry please!”
Rachel quickly shoved the idea of losing Mathew also out of her mind.
***
“She’s on her way!” Mathew shouted to Masters and the Doctor, barely heard over the concussions from the carbines.
“What can I do?” Themopolous yelled.
“Grab the ammo bag from the ATV!” Masters yelled back. “Pull out all the loaded clips!” He squeezed the trigger, more zombies fell. “Toss a fresh one to us when we call out! Fill the empty ones we toss back to you!”
Themopolous dashed to the ATV and grabbed the bag, nearly pulling her shoulder out of socket from the weight. She dragged the bag closer to Mathew and Masters.
“Okay, I’m ready!” she called.
***
Rachel’s mech ran past the funeral pyre, not bothering to wait for Masters and Mathew to stop firing. Bullets ricocheted off the battle machine’s frame.
Mathew, Masters and Themoplolous watched in awe as Rachel ran her mech into the middle of the dozens of zombies still left. Furious, she lifted her metal fists and smashed down, crushing the undead beneath her. She did the same with her massive feet, mashing the creatures into pulp.
Within seconds, all was still.
Rachel’s chest heaved, then seized. Far away, Mathew’s voice called to her, but it all went black before she could respond.
***
“Commander?” Harlow called over the com.
“Yes, Harlow?” Capreze responded, walking with Bisby from his office. “Whatcha got?”
“Looks like company may have followed Bisby.”
Capreze glanced at Biz and narrowed his eyes. “I wasn’t aware of that. How far out?”
“At the funeral pyre. Sounds like Rachel came in and saved my boy’s ass, but…”
Capreze stopped, Bisby did also, waiting, not privy to the conversation.
“But what?”
Harlow hesitated, “Well, sir, it sounds like Rachel may have passed out. Want me out there?”
“I want everyone out there. Get the transport ready and get the staff loaded up.”
***
Mathew lowered Rachel’s unconscious form to the ground, having just retrieved her from the cockpit. “Holy crap!” he gasped, slumping to the ground from the exertion.
Checking Rachel’s pulse while pulling back an eyelid, Doctor Themopolous turned to Masters. “Your turn to help. Hand me my bag.”
Masters grabbed the med bag next to the pyre and handed it to Themopolous. She shook her head. “No, I need you to pull out the injector and grab the small red vial in the side pouch.”
Masters did as he was told, Mathew rolled onto his side to get a better view.
***
Jay manned the transport controls, powered up the vehicle
and checked the instrument panels. “Ready to go Commander.”
Capreze did a quick head count. “Alright, Jay, we’re all loaded. Take us out there.”
“Gotcha.”
Capreze clicked his com. “Mathew?”
“Yes, sir?” Mathew responded, still sounding winded.
“We are on our way. How’s my girl?”
There was a slight pause. “She’s coming around now, sir. Doc says she’ll be fine.”
“Good to hear. Site secure?”
“Yes sir. Your girl took care of that.”
“Excellent. We’ll be there in just a moment.”
Capreze severed the communication as the transport left the hangar.
***
Mathew helped Rachel to her feet. She wobbled a little, but stayed upright.
“Easy now,” Mathew said. Rachel smiled at him weakly, gently removing his hand from her arm.
“I’m fine. I got this,” Rachel responded.
“Take these,” Doctor Themopolous ordered, handing Rachel two red pills.
“What are those?” Masters asked.
“Just some energy pills, they’ll give her a boost and also maintain her blood sugar.”
“Blood sugar?” Mathew asked.
Themopolous turned to Rachel. “I am assuming all you had for breakfast was coffee?”
Rachel nodded. “Just like every morning.”
“Yes, well this wasn’t like every morning, now was it?”
***
Doctor Themopolous and the pilots stood at attention as the transport pulled up.
The side door opened and the base staff exited, forming a semi-circle around the pyre. Capreze exited last. He placed himself opposite the semi-circle on the other side of the pyre.
Capreze nodded and Jay lifted a small bag labeled “flammable” that lay by his feet. He stepped to the pyre and shook the contents out around Stanislaw’s body. Small briquettes tumbled from the bag and scattered across Stanislaw’s corpse.
Jay stood back as Capreze lifted a torch from the ground and lit it.
Several sobbed quietly.
***
“This is an unfortunate tragedy,” Caprese stated solemnly. He looked at each of the pilot’s faces, trying to gauge which couldn’t cope with their grief. “Stanislaw was a good man, a good pilot and a dear friend.”
Some of the attendees sniffed, a few brushed away tears. Most stood stone-faced, burying their pain deep down. Bisby’s face raged.
“Today we set a colleague free, we send his soul above and make sure his body stays at rest.”
Commander Caprese lifted the torch to the pyre, lighting the briquettes and setting the platform and what was left of Stanislaw’s body ablaze.
***
The base crew each said their goodbyes to Stanislaw as his body became ash and the ash became smoke, adding to the trillions and trillions of particulates of burnt, dead heroes already floating in the atmosphere.
When the train whooshed by, no one turned to look, no one cared about supplies and requisitions, news and gossip from the city/states or some dumb Rookie thinking he won the lottery and was on his way to glory.
No one could take their eyes off the now smoldering pyre and the scorched pieces of melted metal that was once part of Stanislaw’s uniform.
***
“As per tradition and out of respect for our lost friend and comrade, we will walk back to base. Jay, you bring back Rachel’s mech,” Capreze ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
“Sir, if I may?” Themopolous interrupted.
“Yes, Doctor?”
“In my professional opinion, I think Pilot Capreze would do better catching a ride back to base in the transport. Just to be safe.”
“I’m fine,” Rachel said quickly.
“For now, but I’d hate to have you relapse.”
Rachel crossed her arms, setting her feet firmly. Capreze noted his daughter’s stance.
“Understood, Doctor. But, I think a walk is just what she needs.”
***
The Rookie stood and stretched as the train came to a halt. He looked at his bloodied hands and broken fingernails, barely believing what he’d just been through. His body was exhausted, but his mind raced, going over and over the mock attack.
The pilot and co-pilot had called back on the com when the test was over to congratulate him on a job well done. They both said they hadn’t seen anyone figure out how to get out of the train car that fast before. Ever.
The car door opened and the Rookie confidently stepped out onto the platform.
***
Stanislaw’s voice echoed through Bisby’s fatigued brain. He shook his head violently, trying to dislodge the ghostly murmurs.
“You okay, Biz?” June asked, placing a hand on his elbow as they walked back to base.
Bisby didn’t answer as he glanced sideways at her, his haunted eyes rimmed with dark circles. She squeezed his arm.
“Of course you’re not. Sorry. Everyone’s right, I do say stupid stuff all the time,” June said. “I’m here, though, if you need to talk.”
Bisby smiled wanly and patted June’s hand. She smiled back and let Bisby move on ahead, giving him his space.
***
“Looks like a funeral,” the train’s pilot said, stepping past the Rookie.
“I wonder what happened,” the Rookie mused aloud, shielding his eyes from the sun, trying to see into the distance.
“Someone died, genius,” the co-pilot quipped. “Happens a lot out here in the waste.”
The Rookie turned to the co-pilot. “Mostly mech drivers?”
“Pilots, boy. They are pilots. You get caught calling them drivers and it’ll be your corpse getting grilled out there.”
“Right, pilots. But, is it? Mostly mech pilots that die?”
“Listen kid, you need to learn that Death is everyone’s bunkmate out in the waste.”
***
“Probably not the best day for a Rookie to arrive,” Capreze said walking arm in arm with Rachel.
“I disagree. It’s probably the best day for him to arrive. No illusions as to what it’s like out here,” Rachel responded. They walked along in silence for a moment, Rachel kicking stones with her boots, the Commander staring at the base, his base, lost in thought.
“Have any idea who you want to mentor the Rookie?” Rachel asked, knowing it wasn’t the most appropriate thing to say, but she couldn’t take the silence anymore.
“Yep.”
“And…?”
“You, Baby Girl.”
Rachel nodded.
***
“Good luck, kid,” the pilot said, shaking the Rookie’s hand.
“You’re not staying?”
“Nope,” the co-pilot answered, shaking the Rookie’s hand as well. “We’re all fueled up. As soon as they all clear off, we’ll be gone.” The co-pilot motioned towards the group coming up the tracks. “We’ve got two days of wasteland to cover. The sooner, the better.”
“Two?” the Rookie asked. “It took four.”
The pilot laughed. “The test was four. The trip was two. Better get used to things not being what they seem out here.”
“Thanks, I will,” the Rookie muttered as the train’s door shut.
***
The Rookie watched from the train platform as the base crew slowly walked back up the tracks, smoke from the pyre reaching towards the sky behind them.
The first pilot to reach him was Bisby and the Rookie stepped off the platform, hand outstretched.
“Hey, there I’m-,” but his greeting was cut short by Bisby’s right fist connecting with his jaw. The world spun and the Rookie took a header to the ground.
“I don’t give a FUCK what your name is Rookie!” was the last thing the Rookie heard before his world went black and the pain became darkness.
Chapter Two
Part One- Welcome To Reality
“Well, you check out fine, but take it easy for the
day,” Doctor Themopolous said, setting her tablet aside.
“Wow…Did he hit me that hard?” the Rookie asked, still groggy.
“Bisby? No, it was the concrete steps that really did the job.” Doctor Themopolous handed the Rookie a packet of pills. “Take one twice a day if you start getting headaches. If the medication doesn’t help, come see me right away.”
The Rookie pushed himself from the exam table and took two tentative steps. “Um, Doc?”
“Mmmm…?”
“How’d I get into an exam gown?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all.”
***
“Welcome back to the conscious world, Rookie,” Rachel said, extending her hand as the Rookie exited the infirmary. “Quite a first impression. You always fall down like a girl when someone hits you?”
The large knot at the back of the Rookie’s head ached, but he pushed that aside and took Rachel’s hand.
“I usually try to scream a little before I pass out, but I couldn’t manage it this time,” quipped the Rookie.
“I’m Pilot Rachel Capreze, you’re new boss,” she said, walking away. The Rookie hurried to follow.
“Oh, I’m—”
“You’re the Rookie. Leave it at that.”
***
“I got it,” Jay said, entering the Commander’s office, not bothering to knock.
Capreze set aside his tablet. “All of it?”
“Almost. About a third of the data was corrupted, but I got most. Whatever happened out there we’ll be able to see Bisby’s side.”
Capreze set his hand out. Reluctantly Jay handed him the small, clear disc.
“Thank you, Chief Mechanic,” Capreze said dismissively.
“Really?” Jay asked, offended. “I spend all night fighting this data from an almost completely fried drive and that’s all I get?”
Capreze raised his eyebrows and nodded towards the door.
“Ah, man…” Jay complained.
***
Rachel and the Rookie stepped into the empty barracks. Rachel motioned towards a bunk that held the Rookie’s pack. “There’s your new home for the rest of your life.”
The Rookie took in the room: the grey metal of the bunks, the foot lockers, larger upright lockers.
“Huh. Festive,” he said mockingly.
“Yeah, well, we don’t spend much time in here,” Rachel said. “You’re gonna want to get cleaned up. Showers are there, latrine is there.” She motioned to two doors at the end of the barracks. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to take you to the mess.”