“That Harris?” Noval asked.
“It was,” the nameless major replied as he looked down at the body.
“We need to move and do it fast,” Novak said, “they are drawn to gunfire.”
A pair of amblers came wandering into the headlights as if on cue to prove Novak’s point. While the major with no name got behind the wheel Novak put his rifle on his shoulder and drew the sick slaying stick (SSS). He pressed the buttons on the side to release the blade on one end and the push the spikes with the heavy ball end out into the open.
He spun the staff and he moved to the front of the Humvee crushing the skull of the nearest ambler with the spiked ball before spinning the SSS around and ramming the blade end into the throat of the next one.
By the time he made it around the Humvee to the passenger side door another ambler had stepped in his way. He jabbed it in the face with the spiked ball and flipped the staff so he could bring the blade side straight down through the top of the ambler’s skull.
He heard movement behind him and wheeled around to see another infected man reaching for him. Novak swung the blade side and removed the amblers head. He kicked the headless ambler out of the way, climbed inside the Humvee and shut the door.
“I think that man you just decapitated served me lunch today,” the nameless major said as he stomped on the gas.
“You sure it is a good idea to leave with all this going on?” Novak asked.
“There will be plenty more infected to kill where we are going,” the major calmly said.
“I was thinking more in terms of saving all of the people.”
“You need to think big picture. We may lose the checkpoint but save the world.”
Novak had heard people talk like this before. The major without a name was starting to remind him of Dr. Talbot. Novak figured like with Talbot he was already committed so there was no point trying to argue. As they plowed through a group of amblers blocking the road Novak leaned back and put a cigarette between his lips.
“No smoking,” the major said.
Novak nodded and lit his cigarette. As he sucked the smoke into his lungs he heard the two way come to life. It caught him off guard because the radio was still set to the private frequency they used on Talbot’s mission. The mission was over, there was no reason anyone should be trying to contact him on this frequency.
He went ahead and answered, saying, “This is Novak.”
“Thank God,” he heard Talbot say on the other end, “I’m trapped in the lab. I need someone to come get me and the sample I’ve been working on.”
“Tell him to call somebody else,” the Major with no name said.
“Does the man I heard outrank me?” Talbot asked.
“No,” Novak told him.
“Then both of you get your asses over here. That’s an order.”
“Is your mission important enough to defy a direct order from a ranking doctor?” Novak asked the major.
“Yes. My superiors would overrule him in a second.”
“Is it worth sacrificing the man who has the best chance to find the cure?”
“He will have to find someone else to help him,” the major said as he plowed through some more infected blocking the way.
“No one else is answering,” Dr. Talbot said.
Novak drew his sidearm, “Remember me saying I didn’t give a fuck?”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m telling you we are going to get Talbot first. I went through too much shit, I did too much shit, to let it all be for nothing. You can drive me there or I can shoot you in the face and drive myself.”
“You’d murder a TMRT officer?”
“What part of I don’t give a fuck do you not understand?”
The major with no name shook his head, but he took the next turn and headed toward the clinic where Dr. Talbot was trapped in his lab.
Chapter 12 - The Medical Wing of TMRT Southeastern Checkpoint - Escondido, CA
Dr. Talbot switched radio frequencies. It would be better to not rely completely on Novak. He was one of the most competent soldiers Talbot had ever run across, but his attitude deteriorated during their time in the QZ. Unlike some other traitors Novak stayed on task and made sure they got the mission done, but it was clear he did not like the mission or by extension Dr. Talbot.
Plus, he was the only one man and the situation outside sounded dire. His calls got no response. A crashing sound got his attention and Talbot realized he had been focusing on the radio to the point he quit watching the door.
The hinges came loose causing the only thing between Talbot and the vampire rotter to come crashing to the floor. The former nurse sprang through the opening. Had Talbot been directly in front of the door it would have had him before he could react. He was near corner, however, by the desk where the firearm was kept. When vampire rotter Nurse Tompkins bound into his lab she went right past him. Though it did not take her long to scan the room and find him.
She opened her oversized jaw giving Talbot a good view of her new teeth and blue tongue as she crouched and then leaped. Talbot fired the gun hitting her enough times to knock her off course from pouncing on him.
Vampire rotter Nurse Tompkins hit the floor and quickly rolled back upright to continue the attack. Dr. Talbot had seen enough vampire rotters in action to know they did not go down easy. He tracked her as best he could with the pistol and squeezed the trigger as soon as she rose to her feet.
The standard issue TMRT firearm for a medical facility was a compact S&W forty caliber with a ten round magazine. Talbot fired all ten rounds, hitting his target with seven of them, six of those rounds in the former nurses upper body. Though she was not near as spry as she had been when she busted down the door, she was still somehow moving.
Talbot threw the empty gun and hit her in the nose, but she kept coming. He was sure she said “Talbot,” as she grabbed his for his lab coat.
He reached back and found the aluminum case containing his samples. He hoped the protective case was built as well as advertised as he swung it at the temple of the vampire rotter getting ready to sink her teeth into him.
He caught her right on the temple. Between the blow and the seven big holes he put into her with the Smith and Wesson she slumped. It was clear she was hurt but she was still on her feet and had Talbot in her grasp.
He hit again with suitcase and felt her grip loosen. He grabbed the suitcase with both hands and brought it down on top of the vampire rotters skull until she let go and went down.
He looked at the case, it still seemed intact. He was glad, some of the samples inside we’re stored in fragile glass containers. He was going for the gun he had thrown when the latch on the sample case came loose and everything inside spilled onto the floor.
“Damn it,” he said as he picked up his laptop. The laptop seemed okay. The manipulated samples, the ones he was feeling good about having the key to a cure, however, were stains on the floor.
He could replicate what he had done. He had more samples in storage to manipulate, but he was not sure he could get to them. He set the laptop down on the desk and put the spare magazine in his pistol before picking up the two way to call Novak.
He had just begun to set the frequency when he heard noise coming from the clinic. He moved to the downed door feeling optimistic Novak had made way way there.
Instead he saw his gunfire had gotten the attention of more infected members of the camp. Two had stumbled in, and only a logjam of infected getting stuck in the doorway as too many tried to get inside at once kept it from getting worse.
Talbot shot the two inside, being more efficient with his bullets and taking them down with a shot a piece. He looked back and realized he could not find any safety in his lab. He could go out the back but he did not like his chances being outside on foot with only eight more rounds to keep him rot free.
There was a small office for the whoever was on duty in the lab. Talbot figured the door to it was less secure than th
e one to his lab but he did not see a better choice as the one of the three infected in the doorway wiggled inside. With this ambler inside, the other two were able to untangle and come in as well. Talbot could see these three did not come alone. He put two bullets in the one who had come between him and office. He stepped over the dead ambler and went inside shutting the door behind him.
He realized the only thing left to do was try to email his findings to someone outside the checkpoint who could use them, since it did not look like he was going to make it.
Chapter 13 - The TMRT Southeastern Checkpoint - Escondido, CA
“You’re starting to make me think you aren’t worth the trouble,” the major with no name said.
“The vampire rotter you walked right past certainly wishes you had left me alone,” Novak replied.
“His name was Harris.”
“If you want to get in and out of the QZ with your life and your sanity it’s better not to think that way.”
“He was one of my best men.”
“Was being the operative word. He became a vampire rotter and at that point he was no longer Harris.”
They reached the clinic before the major with no name could reply. They pulled up to the back entrance which would take them straight into the lab. They were both glad to see there were no infected in the area.
Novak picked up the radio, saying to the major, “Better to let him know we are coming in. People can get itchy trigger fingers in this situation.”
“Make the call, the sooner we are out of here the better.”
“This Novak, I’m at the back. Acknowledge.”
There was no reply. Novak tried again and got the same result.
“Can we go?”
“No,” Novak said as he exited the Humvee.
“If he followed protocol and locked the clinic down we won’t be getting in without drawing a shitload of the wrong attention,” the major with no name said as he pulled a rifle and a sick slaying stick from out of the Humvee and joined Novak by the door.
Novak kicked opened the door. The two soldiers stepped inside.
The major pointed to the dead body of vampire rotter Nurse Tomkins and then the broken door, “It doesn’t look good for your boy.”
“He’s not my boy.”
“Can we go now?”
“He killed it.”
Before the major could answer an ambler stumbled into the lab. Novak reached it in three long steps and bashed in it’s skull with his SSS. From where he was he could see in the other room, there were at least ten infected amblers were inside.
“I think it is safe to say he didn’t make it,” the major said as another one headed toward them. The major raised his gun but Novak put his arm on the barrel and gently pushed it down.
“Remember the part about gunfire drawing them in?” Novak said before stepping forward and stabbing it in the neck. He twisted the blade before pulling it free. The ambler sprayed blood as it dropped to the floor.
“Do I have to ask again or are we going to wait for them all to come in here?”
“I guess if he made it out Talbot is on his own.”
“Finally,” the major said as he headed for the door.
Novak followed until he heard a gunshot coming from inside of the building.
The major with no name stopped at the doorway when he noticed Novak was not following.
“The infected don’t fire guns,” Novak told him.
“Aw hell,” the major said, “Since whoever is in there already fired a shot can we at least use our guns too?”
Novak shrugged and put his SSS on his shoulder rig and unslung his rifle. He thought about it for a second and then put it back. The major with no name was surprised to see Novak walking his way as more shots rang out in the other room.
“Change your mind?” the major asked.
“I think the humvee should plow right through these temporary walls,” Novak said as he walked past, “You going to drive or you want to give me the keys?”
“I’ll drive,” the major said.
“There is an office on the west side of the clinic, I bet he is in there. Seemed the infected were gathered around it.” Novak said as he took the seat next to the major.
It took the major a second to get the steel reinforced bumper lined up with the side of the building as he backed into the structure on the other side of the road to get some space. He stomped on the gas and popped the Humvee into gear.
They went through the thin wall of the hastily constructed clinic and were on through the lab in a matter of seconds. They plowed through a mass of infected and stopped in front of the office. Already the infected they had downed were being replaced by more coming in from the outside.
Novak went into the back and came up through the gunners hatch on the roof. The Humvee blocked off most of the gathering horde from the office. There were four of them by the door. The top half of the door had been knocked out and the quartet of amblers were pushing each other to get through. Novak mowed them down with the rifle moving the gun left to right as he put four bullets in four heads.
Dr. Talbot tried to open the door but the dead bodies of the infected blocked it. Novak jumped off the roof. He shot down one who had managed to get around the Humvee and then started dragging bodies away from the office door.
“Hurry up,” he heard the major.
After pulling the second body out of the way he glanced back to see why the major was so anxious. The infected were climbing over the top of the Humvee. Novak fired with one hand while he dragged away another body with the other, killing the infected on the roof of the vechile.
With three bodies clear Dr. Talbot was able to push the door enough to get himself out. He hustled to Humvee, and went in the back door as Novak emptied the rest of his clip into all the infected coming at him from all directions.
Novak followed Talbot into the back seat and slammed the door shut.
“Hang on,” the Major told them as he stomped on the gas and popped the Humvee into gear, going straight ahead. There were less infected that direction and he figured if he could get through the other wall in the back he could get through this one in the front.
He figured correctly. Without two walls the clinic collapsed as he drove away.
“You need to get me to Thompson,” Talbot said.
The major with no name glanced back at him and said, “I’ve wasted too much time. We are going to the motor pool. My team is some of the best around, they will have it locked down. You can wait out the alert there, or if possible have someone take you to Thompson’s quarters from the motor pool.”
“You seem to be having difficulty understanding how rank works. I’m not asking you to take me to Thompson’s quarters, I’m ordering you to.”
“I understand perfectly how rank works. I’m not about to defy a direct order from someone higher on the chain of command than you.”
“Thompson will want to see me and it doesn’t get any higher than him right now.”
“You sure about that?”
“What do mean? Who could have given you an order who is higher up than Thompson?”
“Would you say the president is higher?”
“You have orders from the president?”
The major nodded.
“To do what?” Talbot asked.
“Classified.”
“Not to me,” Novak said, “It’s time you got to talking.”
“After we drop Dr. Talbot at the motor pool.”
“I believe I am high enough in rank to know what you are doing,” Talbot said.
“Maybe when you find General Doctor Thompson he will tell you,” the major said as they pulled up next to the garage where his team was waiting for them.
“Did you say they would have the motor pool locked down?” Talbot asked.
“My team is top notch, they know the standard the protocol for a level five alert.”
“Is leaving the door open part of level five protocol?”
“Shit,” the major said as he got out of the Humvee.
“You might want to wait here,” Novak said to Talbot as he followed.
Talbot looked out down the road leading to the motor pool, the road was not lit well, only sporadic hastily mounted street lights provided any light this early in the morning. Talbot could see figures come into the light and then out, moving his direction. He was not sure staying in the Humvee was a good idea. He also wasn’t sure going inside the motor pool was much better. He decided to give Novak and the major without a name a chance to make sure it was clear before he rushed in.
Novak came through the door knowing the chances those inside did not have the rot was virtually zero. Rot free people do not leave the door wide open during a level five alert. He hoped whatever was inside could be taken care of without gunfire. The last thing they needed was drawing a horde to them.
The two vampire rotters he saw perched on top of the duplicate of the locomotive style transport, complete with the same big plow, he and Talbot had used on their previous foray into the Quarantine Zone.
One turned to him and the other set it’s sights on the major. Novak was fast with his rifle. He raised the weapon and grouped a three round burst into the things chest. The bullets did not kill it, but they slowed it enough Novak could put the next round in its forehead.
Novak turned to see the major was not as quick on the draw. The major was on his back with the vampire rotter was on top of him. He was holding his rifle with two hands, shoving it into the rotters mouth in an effort to keep it from biting him. The way they were moving Novak did not want to fire, at this angle with both of them jockeying for position he worried he would shoot the major.
The strap kept the rifle at his side when he let go and drew his knife and pistol. He used the pistol to shoot a soldier turned ambler who stepped between him and the major. Novak stepped over the dead ambler and drove the knife down into the back of the vampire rotters skull.
The major saw the tip of the combat knife’s blade come through the vampire rotters eye. He saw the blade rotate as Novak gave the knife a twist before pulling it free from the infected soldier’s head.
ROT Series (Book 4): The Savior Page 5