Jesse stood up in front of everyone. “Frank, I think I speak for everyone when I say… To hell with vacation. I will wait as long as I have to if it means getting Nikki and Jamie back to work.”
“What he said,” Craig spoke up.
The entire group nodded in agreement.
“Thanks guys. Anna, Jim, Diane, Eric? Grab your gear. We leave in fifteen minutes. Tommy, Steve? You hold down the fort. Let’s get to work,” Frank said.
Anna and the others went into the basement to grab their gear.
“So what’s the story with Frank? Is he just a genius or what,” Eric asked.
“You could say that. He would deny it. When it comes to combat, there’s no one better. Took down a whole gang of cannibals, not too long ago, by himself,” Jim said.
“Cannibals? You’re shitting me,” Eric said.
Anna looked at him as she zipped up her ammo vest. “No. They nearly killed him but he killed them all. Frank was SF before he was EOD. He’s the only reason that any of us are alive.”
“Well, he’s helping me complete my mission, so I’ll follow him to the ends of the Earth,” Diane said, beginning to understand that she made the right choice to trust Frank.
“Your mission,” Jim asked.
“To keep the Doctors alive so they could finish the cure. They won’t be able to finish it without that research data.” Her voice cracked and her chin quivered. “I had given up after we had to abandon the complex. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. I owe you guys a lot for this.”
“You don’t owe us anything,” Frank said.
Diane turned around. She never heard him coming.
“We’re all in this together. You mission is our mission. All we have is each other.” He grabbed his vest and started putting it on. “If Nikki and Jamie can put a dent in the infection then I’ll be happy. They deserve the right to try. I’ll make sure they get the chance.”
“Thank you, Frank.”
Frank grabbed his rifle. “You’re welcome. Come on. Let’s hit the road.”
After the trip to town was done, they discussed the plan for going to Topeka.
“So where is the CDC in Topeka,” Anna asked.
“It’s downtown off of Jackson street. But we were at a backup facility on the outskirts of town. They moved us there when the outbreak first started,” Jamie said.
“Ok. We can work with that. Diane, do you know what we’re looking for,” Frank asked.
“Yes. The laptops should be at their work stations,” Diane said.
“I can grab them,” Jamie said.
“Sorry Jamie. You can’t go,” Eric said.
“What? Why?”
“Eric is right. You’re too valuable to lose. We can handle it,” Diane said.
“Agreed. Diane can lead us in and grab what we need. Speaking of which, is there anything else that we need,” Frank asked.
“No. All the samples are ruined by now,” Nikki said.
“Good. We will leave first thing in the morning. Get some rest tonight,” Frank said, ending the meeting.
Later that day, Anna and Steve were on the porch watching Frank play tag with the kids in the yard. Diane came out on the porch.
“Hey, Diane,” Steve said.
“Hey.” she motioned to Frank. “Does he ever get tired?”
“Yeah. He’s exhausted now but he hasn’t been able to play with Isabelle in a while. He will crash eventually but he wanted to have some time for her first,” Anna said.
“So, he’s an outstanding soldier and a great dad. The Army could have used more like him,” Diane said.
“That’s why I love him. I do wish he wasn’t as stubborn though.”
Diane giggled. “I bet.”
“Yeah. Frank has been a pain in my ass since day one. He has a tendency to worry more about us than his health,” Steve said.
“What do you mean?” Diane was curious.
“Remember when we told you about the cannibals? They messed him up pretty bad. Severe concussion and broken ribs. Even though he killed them all, they made their mark. He still insisted on working that same day. He doesn’t know how to stop,” Anna said.
“Yeah. I knew quite a few SF operators that were the same way. Stuff like that gets drilled into their heads. That’s what makes them damn good soldiers. I’m sure this stubbornness has saved you guys on more than one occasion. Right?”
“I can’t say that it hasn’t. I just wish he didn’t have to go 100% all the time. Even on the days off that we take, he doesn’t rest. He should have burned out a long time ago,” Steve said.
Frank walked up to them with Tonya straddling his shoulders and Isabelle and Susan in his arms. Toby and Tim were standing on either side of him and Jenny was in front of him. The three looked at him and couldn’t help but smile.
“The kiddos are getting hungry. You know if Natalie is close to finishing dinner,” Frank asked.
“She’s just about. She sent me out here to tell you guys to wash up. How on Earth did you get all three girls up there,” Diane asked.
“That, my dear, is our little secret. Right, girls,” Frank asked.
“That’s right, daddy,” Isabelle yelled.
“Il est si bon.” Tonya said.
“Translation,” Steve asked.
“’He’s that good,’” Diane translated.
Steve laughed.
“I didn’t know you spoke French,” Diane said.
“Tonya is our resident genius. She speaks a few languages,” Frank said.
Diane looked at her.
“Mais c'est un peu rouillé,” Tonya said that she was rusty.
“Le mien aussi. Nous pourrions pratiquer sur un autre.” Diane offered to practice with her.
“Ce serait bien. Je vous remercie,” Tonya said, accepting her offer.
“Well, that was pretty,” Frank uttered.
Tonya giggled.
“Anna, Steve? Take these munchkins,” he said as he reached out and handed them Isabelle and Susan. He grabbed Tonya’s ankles and knelt down as low as he could so she could climb off of his shoulders.
“Let’s go eat,” Frank said.
Chapter 24
Our Mission
The next morning, the group members were preparing to make for the CDC complex.
“Quick question before we go,” Jim said, feeling uneasy.
“What is it, Jim,” Frank asked.
“This is a CDC lab we’re going to. Is there anything nasty locked in there that we need to be worried about?”
“No. It was an unused backup site that we only use in case the main facility is compromised. The only thing in the lab is the infection we need to cure,” Diane answered.
“Ok, good,” Jim said, feeling a bit less nervous.
“Do we have all the supplies loaded up? Gas? Ammo,” Frank asked.
“I just loaded the last of it myself. You guys are good to go,” Tommy said.
“Thanks Tommy. We’ll be back soon.”
“I hope so. Watch your ass out there,” Tommy said, very seriously.
“Will do.” Frank lightly slapped Tommy on the arm. He then turned to his group. “Alright guys. Load up.”
An hour later, the group arrived at the location. They set up their speakers and filled the generator with gasoline. Frank ordered them to go back to the vehicle while he turned on the generator and activated their distraction.
‘Here goes nothing,’ Frank thought.
He yanked on the pull cord for the generator and it came to life. He quickly turned on the media player and turned the volume all the way up. Obnoxiously loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Frank sprinted back to the MRAP and jumped into the vehicle. Anna drove back out to the main road and circled around to the main entrance. There, they waited, watching the Biters move toward their distraction. Once they were satisfied they could handle the rest of them with their silenced weapons, Frank spoke up.
“Alright. Here’s how this will go. I’ll
take point. You guys will shadow me. Eric will bring up the rear. No one goes anywhere alone. We go in, straight for the laptops and we leave. Diane will give directions to the lab. Tap my right shoulder to turn right and vice versa. We go silent. No sightseeing, and no detours. Understood?”
“Got it, Frank,” Diane said.
“Let’s go,” Frank said.
The team ran to the main entrance, staging themselves along the wall next to the door. One of the double glass doors was broken, glass littering the sidewalk. Frank peeked into the door, looking to see if there were any threats in the hallway. Seeing nothing, he whipped his rifle around his back and took out his knife and silenced pistol. He opened the door and the team rushed into the building. He could hear loud banging coming from a set of double doors in the hallway. Frank, weapon at the ready, rushed silently down the hallway with everyone else following. Frank approached an open door in the hallway. Two Biters were standing in the room. Frank, without hesitation, shot both of them in the head. The silencers muffled the sound of the weapon fire effectively, but could not silence the gunfire completely. The sound still had a fairly loud ‘TWAK’ sound but the deafening noise of the speakers was much louder. Frank continued down the hallway. When they approached a “T” in the hallway, Diane tapped Frank’s right shoulder. Frank slowed his speed to glance down the hallway before he proceeded. Three Biters were in the hallway. He turned the corner then shot all three in the head with expert precision. Frank passed the first Biter before it hit the ground. He was coming up on a hallway and Diane tapped his left shoulder. Frank made his glance, the hallway was clear. He swiftly walked down the hallway. Diane double tapped his right shoulder. They were at the lab. Diane attempted to use her card to access the door, but was unsuccessful. The battery backups for the card access system had failed, sealing all the doors connected to the system. Frank looked in the seam of the door seal. He could see where the magnet attached to the door. He put his knife away and replace the mag in his pistol and also put it away. He retrieved his rifle from around his back.
He pointed to the wall. “Get along the wall and cover your ears. Even a silenced rifle is still loud. Be ready to move.”
They did as they were told. Frank pointed his weapon to bottom of where the maglock was and started firing. Using his weapon, he cut around the bottom of where the maglock was. He then used the same tactic for the door hinges. He replaced his mag.
“Get ready,” Frank said, then with all his might, he kicked the door in. With a loud crunch the remaining wood attaching the two magnets gave way and the door collapsed to the floor. Frank rushed in, scanning the room. No threats were present.
“Grab the laptops and let’s go,” Frank ordered.
Diane rushed passed him to a long table in the middle of the room. She picked up the laptops and a notebook next to them, stuffing all three and power cables into her bag.
“Got it,” Diane said.
With everything in hand, Frank led the team back into the hallway. They turned their first corner on the way out and were met by a hallway full of Biters. Apparently, the double doors in the first hallway gave way and they were lured by the sound of Frank taking down the door. Frank opened fire.
“Anna! Eric! Get up here,” Frank ordered.
Anna and Eric moved quickly, stopping at Frank’s side. The three of them opened fire on the slow Biters. Many fell before the team had to replace their mags. Before long, the hallway was clear yet again.
“Let’s hurry before more of them show,” Frank said.
The team rushed towards the exit. Once they reached the front doors, Frank motioned for them to stop. In the courtyard outside, the area was full of Biters moving through to get to the speakers.
“Shit. What do we do, Frank,” Jim whispered.
“We will just wait a bit. They haven’t seen us yet. They may thin out,” Frank said.
They waited for ten minutes, their numbers weren’t thinning. Frank checked his mag, making sure he had a full one in his weapon.
“Ammo check. We can’t wait anymore. This area is going to end up being standing room only,” Frank said.
They all performed their checks.
“Alright. Eric, you’re with me. We will go out first and cut a path. Anna, Jim? You guys watch Diane’s back. I’ll give the signal. When I do, you haul ass to the MRAP. Diane, when you get in that truck, you don’t come back out. No matter what happens, our prize makes it back to the house. Understood?”
“Got it,” they said in unison.
Frank looked at Eric and stood up. “Ready?”
Eric stood up as well. “Let’s do it.”
Frank exited the door with Eric right behind him. The two opened fire on the horde, dropping many within the first few seconds with expert precision. The two had made an opening, a path in the center of the horde, and were on both sides of this opening looking to widen it.
“Anna! Go,” Frank yelled.
The three of them ran out of the door, sprinting toward the MRAP. Diane made it into the vehicle. Anna and Jim stopped just short of it and turned back to give Frank and Eric cover fire so they could make it to the JERRV as well. They opened fire, shooting the ones closest to the two men.
Frank broke away from the horde and started to move toward the MRAP.
“Eric! Let’s go!”
“Frank,” Eric screamed.
Frank looked toward him. The Biters were overwhelming him. They grabbed his clothing and forced him closer. Frank started shooting them but there were too many. They tackled him, forcing him to the ground. The instant he hit the ground, bullets began to hail on the Biter horde surrounding Eric. Frank glanced back, Diane was on the 240B machine gun. Biters fell, left and right. This combined with Frank’s surgical fire cleared the Biters from around Eric.
Frank moved forward. Once he was sufficiently cleared, Frank grabbed Eric by the collar pulling him to his feet. He and Frank sprinted to the MRAP. They entered the vehicle and sped away from the horde, getting back on the main highway.
In the passenger area of the vehicle, Frank grabbed Eric checking him over.
“Are you ok? Any bites?”
Eric also checked himself over, just in case. He was in tears.
“I don’t think so. Holy fuck that was close.”
Diane closed and locked the turret hatch. Eric looked up at her, tears still in his eyes. “Thank you…”
She knelt down to him. “Just repaying the debt.”
Eric smiled. “I must have had some interest owed.”
She caressed his face then kissed him, passionately. She released him.
“That, you did.”
Anna looked back from the front passenger seat.
“Are we good?”
“We’re good. Take us home, Jim,” Frank said.
“Gladly,” Jim said.
When they came back into Manhattan, Frank took out the radio.
“Alpha to base,” Frank called out.
“Base here,” Tommy answered through static.
“Base, we’re coming back into Manhattan. ETA 20 minutes. Mission successful,” Frank said.
“Copy. You guys ok,” Tommy asked.
“It was close but we’re good.”
As they pulled up into the driveway, the entire group met them outside. Frank hopped down from the JERRV and met Tommy and Steve.
“So, what happened,” Steve asked.
“A horde met us as we left the building. Eric and I fought through them so the others could make it to the JERRV with the laptops. Eric got swarmed. Diane saved the day,” Frank said.
“I’m glad you guys made it,” Tommy said.
“Yeah. Thanks Tommy.” Frank hugged him. “I think it’s time for that vacation now…”
Diane walked up to the Doctors and handed Jamie the bag. “Here’s your data. I also picked up your notebook, Nikki.”
“Thanks,” Nikki said. She and Jamie both felt guilty that they nearly died to recover their research.
> Diane took Nikki’s hands. “Hey. Don’t stress over this. No one got hurt. In all honesty, this would have gone a lot worse if we didn’t have Frank and the others. We’re all in this together now.”
“She’s right. We are all in this together. We’re going to take a few days off, then we’ll start getting the lab ready for you to get to work,” Frank said.
Nikki wiped the tears from her face. “That sounds good.”
That night, Frank, Anna, Jim, Tommy, Diane and Steve were sitting on the front porch discussing their next step.
“We’ll need to go find the breakers for the hospital floors and switch them all off then go through every single one until we find the one for the lab. It will probably operate the entire floor,” Jim said.
“Luckily for us, the generators are on the back side of the building. We can use the front doors. We’ll need to put up the fence,” Frank said.
“Wait. Fence? What fence,” Diane asked.
“We use a fence that runs a high voltage current from industrial generators to exterminate the hordes in the area. At the center of the trap is the speakers like we used today. The noise draws in Biters for miles and they fry themselves on the fence,” Frank explained.
“That’s pretty genius. Can’t believe you guys thought up something like that,” Diane said.
“It was actually all Frank’s idea. He’s just being modest,” Steve said.
“It was a group effort,” Frank said.
“I just wish the military of the CDC would have thought it up. Would have saved a lot of lives,” Diane said, sounding depressed.
“It would have never been possible,” Frank said.
Diane looked at him as if he had shot her. “What do you mean?”
“Think about it. We had tons of manpower, tons of weapons, and access to everything we needed to do the fences. We just didn’t have time. Anna, Tommy and I were on the frontlines trying to hold the Biters back. We could barely by the time for, what 500 people to escape?” He motioned to Anna and Tommy.
“Yeah, and getting overrun at multiple points on the line,” Anna said.
“Yeah… Every soldier from Fort Riley was holding the line. It wasn’t enough, much less to buy time to get up a fence. The Biter population was much more concentrated in the cities then. Now they are spread much thinner. We’ve had ample time to devise many kinds of traps for them, while at the same time being ready to move homes. It’s all delicate but we've made it work and the traps are always evolving.”
Life In Death (Book 1): Surviving Death (The Struggle) Page 29