by Jake Bible
“Got it!” Sister says then adjusts the stick.
“More!” Val yells. “MORE!”
Sister adjusts again.
“Less!” Val yells. “LESS!”
Sister adjusts again and then the helicopter is flying out into open air. As soon as it is clear enough, she swings it around and takes it up into the night sky. She flies up and around, her eyes locked onto the dark curve of the mountain.
“They used to have red lights that blinked on every tall structure or obstacle in the whole country,” Sister says. “That way helicopters wouldn’t fly right into a tower or building.”
“Or mountain?” Stanford asks.
“Or mountain,” Sister says. “How are we looking out there?”
“I can’t see anything,” Val says, pulling her head back inside the cockpit. “It’s too cloudy out.”
“We’re clear,” Stanford says. “I snagged a pair of NVGs. Oh, shit!”
Half the mountainside explodes into flame. Burning hunks of rock fly everywhere and Sister pulls up, sending the helicopter climbing above the exploding mountainside.
“Uh, could I have those NVGs?” Sister asks. “Might help keep us from crashing.”
“No problem,” Stanford says. “I was looking right at the tunnel when it blew. I can’t see a fucking thing now.”
Sister reaches back for the goggles and Val gasps.
“Both hands on the stick!” she snaps as she grabs the goggles from Stanford and hands them to Sister. “Jesus.”
“Val doesn’t like flying,” Sister states.
“Not anymore,” Val says. “As soon as we land this thing, I’m done. No more helicopters.”
“As soon as we land this thing, I’m done too,” Sister says. “Can’t top that move back there. Best to quit on a high note.”
“You are so fucked up,” Val says.
“True dat, homey,” Sister replies.
“None of that make any sense,” Stanford says.
“Never does,” Sister says.
Chapter Twelve- It Ain’t Over Until The Undead Lady Screams
The barricade isn’t anywhere near high enough, deep enough, strong enough to stop the herd that slowly comes towards the new stronghold. Everyone that stands behind it, firearms in hand, knows that fact. They are very aware of it and more than a few people turn and throw up from nervousness.
Commander Lee walks back and forth behind the residents, unhappy that once again she must instruct her people on how to hold the line. It was supposed to be easy. Just get everyone inside, close the doors, push a button, and the world outside goes away. But she had deluded herself.
Nothing is ever easy when the undead are the ones that truly rule.
“You take them out at the legs!” she shouts. “Drop the first wave and let them muck it up for the others behind them! I want to see piles! I want to see a wall of downed Zs! Then when the others climb over you put bullets between their eyes! The dead ones will weigh down the still alive ones! We turn them into the barricade we need! We turn the Zs against themselves!”
There’s no cheer or cry for victory. Not that she expects there to be. People are too scared. They’ve faced a Z herd before, but nothing even close to the scale of what is coming at them now.
She looks over her shoulder as residents flee further into the new Stronghold. Once all the firearms were handed out, she’d instructed the remainder of the residents to move themselves, and all supplies, as deep into the Stronghold as possible. The secondary doors will hold against the Zs, but not for long. It is the main entrance doors she still needs working.
“Kevin!” she shouts as soon as she sees the man push through the fleeing crowd. “What are you doing here? Did you push the button?”
“No,” Kevin says. “I was able to figure out the intercom system and heard everything that was going on in here. We can’t launch the nukes until we have the doors closed.”
“I gave you an order, Mr. Ross,” Commander Lee says.
“I ignored that order when new information presented itself,” Kevin says, standing his ground. “If I’d pushed the button, Denver would have been a nuclear crater fifteen minutes ago.”
“The radiation wouldn’t get to us right away,” Commander Lee says. “We’ve checked the winds.”
“No, but the EMP would fry all of the circuits in this place without those doors closed,” Kevin says. “They’re shielded to withstand the pulse. If I’d pushed the button then we’d be back in the Dark Ages. Forever.”
“Shit,” Commander Lee says then clasps Kevin on the shoulder. “Good call. Keep making those calls in case I miss anything.”
“We’re all going to miss something,” Kevin says. “Look around. This is a different world now. We’re in the real Stronghold.”
“Here they come!” Marsh yells from the barricade.
“On my mark, open fire!” Commander Lee orders as she hustles away from Kevin and joins the line at the barricade. “Ready! Aim! Fire!”
***
Sister and the Mates go silent as Denver comes into view. Despite the night’s darkness, there is plenty of light coming from the many conflagrations that burn through the city. Everyone in the helicopter becomes very aware of the state of the world below them.
“What the hell is up with all the fires?” Val asks. “Look at them all. There’s even more than before. No way they could have spread that fast.”
“Crazies,” Sister says. “I’ve seen it before. When the Zs overrun a city, the crazies go even more crazy and just start lighting shit on fire. Sacramento, Montgomery, Indianapolis. They’ve all been burned to the ground because of crazies.”
“I don’t see signs of them. All I see are Zs,” Stanford says. “Holy shit. This herd is insane. Are we looking at millions?”
“Not for long,” Sister says. “Hey, Tommy Bombs!”
“What?” Tommy Bombs replies after Stanford shoves a headset into his hands and he puts it on. “You need me?”
“You notice what I got in the cargo hold with you?” Sister asks, a smile in her voice.
“What? Where?” Tommy Bombs asks. He’s quiet for two seconds then he starts laughing. “Oh, shit! You put the bombs back into the helicopter?”
“I did,” Sister says. “I think Tommy Bombs has earned some fun. What do you all think?”
“He saved our asses,” Stanford says.
“He sure fucking did,” Cole agrees.
“Tommy Bombs, light up the night, Mate!” Sister yells. “Woo hoo!”
“Why are we going lower?” Val asks. “Sister?”
“Make it easier for Tommy Bombs,” Sister says, “and because we only have one turbine and limited fuel. I’m keeping our altitude low until we are forced to climb.”
The burning city below grows larger and larger until Val can actually make out shapes of old office furniture and debris inside rooms as they pass by the taller buildings.
“First one out!” Tommy Bombs shouts as he tosses one of the phosphorous bombs out the cargo hold door.
The explosive device plummets hundreds of yards until it lands in the mass of Zs that steadily move through the cracked and broken streets. Thirty seconds later, the bomb goes off and the world behind the helicopter becomes a flash so bright that it’s as if the sun has come out for a split-second.
“Holy shit,” Tommy Bombs whispers, blinking a few times. “That was awesome!”
“Good thing I closed my eyes,” Sister says. “Or I’d be blind as a Code Monkey with these NVGs on.”
“Do not close your eyes when flying!” Val shouts. “Don’t do that again!”
“Hey,” Stanford says. “Did anyone see that?”
“See what?” Cole asks.
There’s a flash from one of the buildings they pass and a split second later Cole hits the deck of the cargo hold, his hand to his cheek.
“Someone’s shooting!” Cole yells.
“That’s what I saw,” Stanford says. “Fucking crazy snipers.”
“You got him?” Val asks.
A bullet pings against the helicopter and everyone ducks their head instinctively. Stanford starts rummaging through the miscellaneous gear in the cargo hold.
“Ford!” Val shouts as another bullet pings against the helicopter. “There’s more than one!”
“I got this,” Stanford says as he finds a night vision scope and slides it onto a rifle strapped above his seat. He chambers a round and puts the rifle to his shoulder then begins sighting through the scope. “Come on, assholes. Gimme one more shot.”
“We don’t want him to shoot again!” Val shouts. “Ford!”
There’s a muzzle flash from the building they start to fly by and Stanford squeezes the trigger.
“You get him?” Val asks.
“I got him,” Stanford says, still watching the buildings as they fly over the Z-clogged streets of Denver. He squeezes the trigger a second time, a third time, and a fourth. “Got those assholes too.”
“Tommy Bombs!” Sister calls out. “Get back to fucking shit up!”
Tommy Bombs looks at Cole and Stanford and they nod.
“Might as well,” Cole says. “Take out as many Zs as we can.”
“And crazies,” Stanford says. “I fucking hate crazies.”
Tommy Bombs grins and grabs up another phosphorous bomb.
***
As soon as weapons click empty, the shooters move from their positions and let a new line of Stronghold residents take their place, fresh magazines loaded into the carbines and rifles of the replacements.
“We’re going to run out of ammunition soon,” Marsh says to Commander Lee as he reloads his rifle, slapping in a fresh magazine as he tosses the empty one onto a pile where folks are busy grabbing those up and pushing cartridges in as fast as they can. “We aren’t making a dent. This isn’t like last time. I can’t even see an end to this herd.”
There’s a loud clanging noise and all heads turn towards the giant doors. One of them starts to move then shudders, stops, and retreats back into its recessed housing.
Lee stares at the doors then shakes her head.
“The Code Monkeys had no reason to attack us this time,” Commander Lee says. “We’d given them what they needed to activate the missiles.”
“Maybe they wanted control themselves,” Marsh suggests.
“No,” Commander Lee replies. “If that was true, they wouldn’t have needed to disable the doors. They could have just pressed the button and gone away.”
“You lost your mind, Maura?” Collin cackles. “You want to find logic with those eyeless bastards? Because you can’t find logic with crazy people. They’re a fucking cult that cuts their own eyes out and then trains like super ninjas. You’ll go just as crazy trying to figure out what’s in those heads. Don’t matter now, anyway. We got Zs to deal with.”
There’s a scream by the barricade and several people begin to run in the opposite direction, heading for the far doors and the hope of safety. Another scream and Marsh, Collin, and Commander Lee see a Z leap at a woman, its teeth sinking into her throat, ripping at the flesh over and over, barely chewing before gulping down the bloody meat.
“Fast one!” Marsh says. “Put it down!”
“Watch out for our people!” Commander Lee shouts as several rifles turn and open fire.
The woman’s body dances and shudders as round after round rip into her and the attacking Z. Finally, one cracks open the monster’s head and its putrid brains plop onto the floor where a man stomps on them over and over again.
“I think it’s dead,” Marsh says. “Get back to the line, Freddie.”
A man kneels by the dead woman, cradling her in his arms as he rocks back and forth, tears streaming down his face.
“Someone help Paul,” Marsh orders. “Get him and Connie to the back.” He looks at Commander Lee. “She didn’t take a shot to the head.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Commander Lee says. “You keep people firing and holding tight.”
Marsh nods and pulls on Collin’s elbow. “Come one. We’re up.”
Rifles and carbines start to click empty and Marsh switches places with a woman that looks like she’s asleep on her feet. Collin sees her as well and nods to the others that stand behind the barricade, their fingers squeezing triggers in rapid succession, every one of them looking as if they are locked in a bad dream.
“Waiting to die,” Collin says. “We better do something soon or folks’ll just sit their asses down and give up. Everyone knows this is a losing battle.”
“It’s not a losing battle until the battle is lost,” Marsh says. “Don’t be a quitter, Collin.”
“Fuck, man,” Collin grins. “I’d have to have the motivation to start something before I quit it.”
***
“Are we going to make it?” Val asks, watching Sister closely. “You keep looking at that gauge. Is that the fuel gauge?”
“We’ll make it,” Sister says shortly.
“You sure?” Cole asks, leaning forward. “You didn’t think this would be a two way trip before.”
“Only one turbine,” Sister says. “We need less fuel.”
“We’re also going a lot slower because of that,” Stanford says. “There’re still crazies out there taking pot shots at us. I’m taking down as many as I can, but seems like the whole apocalypse rifle club is out there tonight. Faster would be better.”
“Not crashing into an ocean of Zs would be best,” Val says.
“You know, if we live through this, I’m never letting you forget this,” Stanford says. “The great Valencia Baptiste is afraid of flying in a helicopter.”
“People are not meant to fly!” Val snaps. “If they were, they’d have wings and—”
“Fire in the hole!” Tommy Bombs yells and everyone counts to twenty-nine then closes their eyes.
Even with closed lids, the flash is intense.
“We’re heading up,” Sister says. “Last stretch, Mates, then you’re home.”
“We’re home,” Val says.
Sister gives her a weak smile, which is more than creepy since her eyes are covered with NVGs. Val shakes off the creep factor and leans towards Sister.
“We’re home,” Val says again. “You can’t stay out in the wasteland. Not once the nukes go off.”
“Why haven’t they?” Cole asks. “This place should have been a crater by now.”
“Whoa, what?” Stanford asks. “Denver’s getting nuked? That’s a little close for comfort.”
“Look down, Ford,” Cole says. “You think Tommy Bombs can take care of all of them? He’s having fun, and making dents here and there, but there is no way we have even a fraction of the amount of explosives needed to kill this herd.”
“Can we watch the nuke go off?” Tommy Bombs asks.
“You need help, Mate,” Stanford says.
“Come on, TL,” Tommy Bombs grins as he readies another phosphorous bomb. “I’ve always wanted to watch a nuke go boom.”
“We may get to,” Sister says. “If the Stronghold is already locked down. If that’s the case then not only will we get to watch it blow, we’ll get to taste that sweet, sweet fallout. Nothing like the taste of fallout on a cold autumn night.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t sound so fun anymore,” Tommy Bombs says.
“Ah, come on,” Sister says. “Fallout ain’t so bad. Trust me.”
“Gonna take your word on it,” Stanford says.
“The Stronghold may not be locked down yet,” Val says, a small bit of hope in her voice. “That’s probably why Denver hasn’t been nuked.”
“If that’s the case then why isn’t it locked down?” Cole asks. “What went wrong?”
***
“Another fast one!” Marsh yells as a Z shoves through the herd and rushes right for him.
The thing’s head explodes and Marsh turns to see Collin racking the slide on his rifle.
“Saw that one coming a ways back,” Collin says. “Loo
k out there. See how some of the Zs start to stumble and move to the side? That means a fast one is heading our way through the herd. Like a snake parting grass.”
“You all hear that?” Marsh asks the few people on either side of him and Collin. “You see the Zs part and you take aim! We can’t have more of those fast ones get in here!”
Several bangs and a harsh grating noise makes everyone jump. The doors on either side of the entrance start to move.
“Get back!” Kevin yells. “Get inside!”
People don’t wait to be told twice. They scramble away from the barricade and get inside the Stronghold entrance, making sure they are well past the deep tracks the doors run on. Parts of the barricade stick out and block the tracks, but the heavy doors make short work of the debris and shove it out of the way.
Then they stop and smoke begins to billow from the right side door.
“Dammit!” Kevin yells. “I need all hands on this motor! We might be able to manually crank these shut!”
“Ain’t gonna matter,” Collin says, pointing his rifle at the twenty-foot opening still left between the doors. “We gave up the advantage. The Zs are breaching the barricade.”
The barricade just outside the doors begins to wobble and crash, piece and chunks tumbling to the ground as the Zs leading the Z herd collide with it. A fast Z scrambles over, followed by another and another, their dead eyes locking onto the first living target they see.
“I still need help!” Kevin yells as he waves a wrench over his head. “Come on!”
Most of the residents flee running and screaming towards the back of the massive entranceway while others only stand there and stare in horror at the Zs coming at them. And the ones heading for Kevin as keeps trying to get people to help him manually close the doors.
“Shit,” Collin says, seeing two fast Zs turn their attention on the man.
He drops to a knee, takes aim, and blows one Z’s head off. He’s about to fire again when the second Z’s head is obliterated as well.
“You don’t get all the fun,” Marsh says. “Come on. Looks like we’re on mechanic duty too.”