Soldiers of ZED: Book 1 - Tripton-Z Series

by WR Peden

  As I roll his detached body over I notice a black 9mm handgun in his waistband. I immediately grab it, looking behind me to make sure I am not snuck up on; I pop the clip out and count the ammunition left.

  “Really, five shots, that's it? I would do better throwing it at these things. But it's better than nothing” I think.

  I then pull the slide back checking functionality including successful sliding action. I reload the clip and then stick the pistol into my waistband. As I stand up to go and pick up my bag and bar, I hear the sound of a large truck, then the sudden unmistakable sound of rapid machine gun fire. I duck behind a dumpster in the alley as I have no idea who they are firing at.

  After a brief moment, I decide to sneak up the side of the convenience store to see what's going on. I make my way to the corner and peek around trying to ensure that I am not seen. I quickly recognize a military Humvee with US Army stamped on the side, a mounted machine gun and an individual in a mixed colored camouflaged uniform controlling the turret. I see them firing towards the hotel and watch them as they mow down the hordes of zombies I attracted. For a few minutes, I watch the bullets fly from the machine gun, tearing and ripping through the undead like a smashed watermelon at a Gallagher show.

  For what seems like forever I feel like I'm in a trance watching these bullets rip and tear through the decomposing flesh when suddenly I feel the cold, unpleasant tip of a gun pressed against the back of my neck.

  “Show me your hands.” says a deep raspy-voiced man. I do as instructed raising both my hands, dropping the crowbar I was previously holding.

  “Slowly stand up and turn around.” instructed the man.

  As I slowly turned around, I notice a group of five men all with their weapons drawn on me and wearing the same mixed colored camouflaged I saw earlier on the individual mowing down the undead. This organization is definitely quasi-military as the majority of the five men are well groomed, freshly shaved with brightly colored uniforms except for a few blood splattered areas and wearing a motorcycle club style patch on the upper left shoulder with a skull wearing a gas mask with the standard bio-hazard symbol on the mask lenses and the words “Soldiers of” above the symbol and “ZED” all in capital below. Well all of them looked like the commercial perfect soldiers but the one man barking the orders at me, who instantly reminds me of the Chris Farley snippet “Fat man in a little coat” as he looks like he is the human equivalent of the Stay Puff marshmallow man, of course he is the one wearing the three strip sergeant insignia. Without thinking I instantly burst out laughing all while I have five semi-automatic weapons drawn on me.

  “What is so funny son? You do not look like you're in the position to be laughing.” said the Sergeant.

  Without thinking I instantly reply “No, it looks like I am in the position to be eaten, and not by those things” I say as I point using my thumb behind me towards the hotel building. Instantly the Sergeant gets beet red with anger as the other four men do everything they can to not laugh in front of him.

  “You're a jokester aren’t ya boy. Just a real hoot, Do you even know what is going on around here?” The Sergeant angrily spouts.

  “No Sir,” I reply “I apologize about the disrespect I sometimes speak before I think. But to answer your question, I do not know what is going on.”

  “What's your name son, what are you doing over here, especially alone,” asks the sergeant.

  “Well Sir, to be honest, The only thing I can remember is waking up in a room across the street and then one of these things shattering the window to the room, So I did the only thing I knew, survive, I ran out the fire door apparently causing all this ruckus you hear, then I went into survival mode,” I answered.

  “So you set that alarm off? Well at least you helped us out a little.” responded the sergeant. The sergeant lowers his weapon while signaling for his men to do the same. “Son, we are the Soldiers of ZED and I am Sergeant Meeks. We are the only enforcement around anymore. We come out at Dawn and try to clear town after town till close to Dusk and head back to the Fort. We have built a nice community complete with markets, homes and a civil government.” explained the Sergeant.

  “Wait, don’t we have a government? How did you all get on the Fort?” I ask.

  “Son, have you not been watching what is going on around here, around the whole world? We have a government that has declared our country a disaster and refuses to help anyone. Washington was one of the first areas completely overtaken by these things causing mass panic and corruption all around the world. ZED saw all this coming and fortunately took over the Fort when our military leaders called for all the soldiers to help control everything. ZED knew that the government's plan would not work, I do not know how but he has foreseen things that I would have never fathomed. Our country was taken over and destroyed quite literally overnight, and then our society has become a bunch of scavenging pigs. We have built the Fort up in just a couple of days because some of us were recruited by ZED weeks ago when he predicted that this would be happening to our country.” Sergeant Meeks explained further.

  “Sir, we just got the all clear for this area.” interrupted another soldier.

  “Son, we wish you luck, we have got to get more supplies. If you can make it to the fort, ask the front gate for me. Until then, Good Luck. Like I said we can’t trust everyone you must earn everything now!” stated Sgt. Meeks as he instructed his men to fall back to the convoy.

  “What just happened,” I thought. Could that sergeant be right? Is our country not what I thought? How much of my memory is missing? All of these undead creatures around and the first group of real humans I meet hold me at gunpoint and explain to me they have overtaken the Fort and have a community there but then they leave me here. Extremely frustrated and on the verge of being pissed off I reach down and pick up the crowbar that I had dropped and my makeshift hobo-sack, look around at the carnage that was left behind by the Soldiers of ZED,fortunately, They eliminated every undead creature that I could see over there and disabled the attracting alarm. I look up and see the Convoy drive by jumping back onto the interstate headed back towards the Fort.

  “Which way shall I go,” I think out loud.

  I can hit the interstate which isn't that far away and probably find some sort of working vehicle or I can go back towards my house but with all these zombies walking around I'm not sure if that is feasible. I begin to look back and forth trying to figure out which option is best. I then look at the sun and sees it starting to go down.

  “Well, Sgt. Meeks did say they head home around dusk.” Again saying outloud

  I then look back and forth once again and begin to walk the same direction the Soldiers of ZED went. Having already experienced a face-to-face battle with the undead, having a gun on drawn on me, I approach the corner of the next building with caution, peek around the building and notice a group of about 4-5 zombies just standing still in the parking lot facing the entrance of the building looking like a group of high school kids. With haste, I scurry along toward the neighboring restaurant which sits next to a large open lot full of semis.

  “If I can find an open truck cab, I can have a space to sleep tonight and possibly with any luck a vehicle for the morning.” I then for head towards the first truck with no visible sleeping area. I glance over it for a brief moment. As I am looking around, I notice out of the corner of my eye a large dark blue semi with a thunderstorm like a scene complete with stars, lightning and clouds painted all over the full truck. My eyes light up as I hurriedly trot toward the truck keeping my head on a swivel as I pass each truck and trailer as to ensure not to startle any undead creatures or run into anything unwanted. I approach the dark blue thunderstorm scene semi and notice that it has a full sleeping cab attached, so I start searching down the left side checking underneath to make sure everything is all clear. After securing the perimeter of the truck I approach the driver side door and notice the Soldiers of ZED logo plastered on the side, with sma
ll letters that read “west coast supply.” Before opening the door I step up onto the side rails and peer into the driver's side window and look for any sign of movement dead or alive. After not seeing anything I jump down and pop open the driver side door which is unlocked.

  I proceed to set my stuff down next to the cab and pull out the 9mm found earlier. I pull the slide back to ensure there is a round in the chamber, with one swift motion; I bring the pistol up shoulder level, finger on the trigger, both hands on the pistol in almost a picturesque position and hop into the cab to start clearing it. I use the driver's seat as partial cover, leaning out from the side I rip open the curtain that is partially closed between the two seats hiding the sleeper inside the cab to make sure I have no unwanted visitors. After ensuring nothing is inside the truck, I put the safety back on and tuck the gun back in my belt.

  I then hop back out of the truck and grab my gear. After hopping back in and setting the gear in the back, I then ensure that the passenger door is locked and secured before proceeding to lock the driver side door. As I climb into the sleeper of the cab, I notice window blockers sitting behind the drivers seat. I proceed to put them up in the windshield and both side windows to help prevent any other person from seeing anyone inside. After making sure everything is locked and secured I go to sit down on the bunk in the sleeper to wind down but almost instantaneously I lie down and fall asleep.

  Chapter 2

  “Hold on I will get help.” I yell out to my family as I start to struggle with my seatbelt.

  I look around and notice a couple of soldiers from a nearby stopped convoy approaching the vehicle. I can see their lips moving but can’t make out what they are saying. They approach the truck, open the back door and help my girls out of the truck, they then come to help my wife when I suddenly I wake up to the dark unfamiliar site of the semi cab.

  I open my eyes and see I'm back in the truck I found yesterday. “I must've been dreaming.” I sit up on the bed and look around, half awake. I stretch out and start looking around to see what I can find. I reach into a small opening under the bed I'm sitting on and feel some sort of bag. I pull it out and see it's a digital camouflage tactical backpack, just like the ones I use to carry when I was in the service. I open it up and dump everything inside onto the bed next to me, knowing that most anyone with this type of bag would have very useful items for a survival situation. I start to rummage through the tactical gear bag and find a couple of potentially useful items such as tactical commando field knife, complete with a still razor sharp steel blade, sawback serrations and a textured handle. I also find a flare gun without any flares, an unopened first-aid kit, and a variety of other little items such as string, 550 cord and another lighter. I take all the items that I believe will be useful and put it back into the gear bag and then put the flashlight and crowbar into the side mesh pockets of the bag.

  I zip up the bag and put it on the bed next to me then proceeded to rummage through the luggage bag lying on the floor at the head of the bed. Nothing really useful except for a change of clothes that might be a tad too big but I go ahead and put them into the tactical bag as well just so I have an extra set in case something were to happen.

  Suddenly a large crashing noise is heard relatively close to me. I jump up, grab my pistol, flip the safety off and slowly pull the window covering back just enough to peek outside. I can't believe my eyes as I peer outside, a small neon green car has flipped over in the middle of the onramp and is surrounded by a horde of trying to get whoever is inside. Without thinking I start to look around for a way to start this big rig. As I look around the driver and passenger seats, I start to hear muffled screams that sound like someone is inside the distant car. I instantly begin to honk the loud obnoxious air horn. I continue to hold the horn down trying to draw attention from the flipped car.

  It starts to work as the horde begins to move my direction. I quickly lock the doors and start looking for the keys again. I get down in between the seats and lean into the driver floorboard and begin to look under the driver seat. No keys, but I did find a case of ammo, I pull it out without reading and set it off to the side. I then go to get up hitting my head on the steering column and a key ring.

  I quickly look and notice the keys were in the ignition the entire time, of course, the one area I hadn’t thought to look at first. I look up and briefly talk to myself as I pray that I can help these people. Then I quickly turn the ignition and hear the engine try to turn over forgetting this is a manual vehicle and I have never actually been trained to drive a semi but I have driven a manual a handful of times. This is going to be a rough ride! I push the clutch in, make sure the shifter is not in gear, turn the key again and pray. To my surprise, the truck turns right over and the loud rumbling of the engine continues to draw the horde closer. I lay on the horn once again, and then slowly release the clutch as I shift into first gear.

  The truck juts forward and backward but starts to move as I stumble into 1st gear, slowly getting this mammoth to move. I then shift into 2nd gear a little smoother but still jumping and bouncing around. I immediately head toward the road with no thought in mind other than to help this poor innocent person. I quickly turn the corner forgetting how monstrous this machine is as I run up and over the corner of the curb as I head straight toward the flipped car with the horde lining up directly in front of my truck. I push the clutch in and shift into third this time almost seamless, as I bear down moving with a little bit of speed, the horde gets closer every millisecond. As I get closer, I lay on the horn causing the entire horde to come to a stop looking up towards the truck, just as I smash into the group.

  Bodies, limbs, and pieces of human remains go flying in every possible direction; an arm flies up and smacks the front window on the passenger's side. I bring the big truck to a slow stop, push the clutch in again shifting into reverse, this time attempting to use the gut covered side mirrors as I back up trying to hit and run over the part of the horde that managed to miss the initial impact. After splattering a few more bodies across the rear of the truck I bring the big bastard to a halt, put it in park and open the door to get out. I briefly pause as I remember I'm limited on ammo and look back and reach over to grab the crowbar out from the mesh pocket I had put it in earlier.

  As I am turned around grabbing the crowbar, I suddenly feel a tug on my ankle, I blindly swing the crowbar toward whatever has hold of my leg with force as I jerk my leg back into the truck and turn towards the door simultaneously I suddenly hear a loud “hey” mid swing as my crowbar comes crashing into the side panel of the cab door as I see this young man, who can't be over 20 leaping out of the way from the haymaker type swing.

  “Sorry to alarm you, sir, I just wanted to thank you for saving me. Can you help my friend as well, he is trapped in the car, I was trying to get him out as these things surrounded me. I just closed up the back door and laid in the car with my friend as we prayed until we heard your horn.” said the young man.

  “Hey my bad kid, I thought you were one of those.” as I point to a zombie body twitching on the road about 15 feet away.

  “My name is Cordell, Cordell Banks,” I say as I exit the big rig, crowbar in hand. I reach up to the seat and grab the pistol and put it on the back right side of my jeans at the waistband. I then reach my hand out to shake the kid's hand.

  “Nice to meet you to sir, my name is DJ.” He responds as he returns the handshake. “Will you help me get my friend out, I think he has finally calmed down from the panic,” said DJ.

  “Sure thing” I respond as I look DJ over.

  DJ is a fairly tall kid having to be taller than six foot as I stand five foot eight inches and I have to look up at him. When I look at him I notice he has some sort of disability but it doesn’t seem to be affecting him very much other than that of a slight stutter of words as he talks. DJ was a big kid, built like an offensive linemen for a college football team. As DJ shook my hand I notice he has an abnormally strong grip and contin
ues to have a smile even after the accident and carnage around.

  DJ turns back towards the car, his eyes get real big and he takes off running. I grab the truck door, shut it and can’t believe what I am seeing. The flipped car has DJ’s friend in the front seat trapped by a seat belt and part of the smashed car, the back door open where DJ got out, inside a flesh rotted zombie torso has crawled into the car and has started to eat DJ’s trapped friend. I take off behind DJ and swing my crowbar connecting mid-sprint with the head of a random zombie that was headed toward the car and the screams coming from inside the car. DJ gets to the car with no weapon in hand, reaches in and grabs the zombie by the torso pulling it out of the car, in an instant filled with hate, anger, and emotion he immediately stomp on the head of the flesh eating bastard. DJ unleashes a world of hell on the head of that thing. By the time he finally wears down the skull has been fractured into tiny shredded fragments, blood and decaying brains are all over the side of the car and midway up DJ’s pants.

  He then drops down to look in the car at his friend, who has started to turn. DJ immediately erupts into tears as he begins to weep and puts his head in his hands. I arrived at the car midway into DJ’s rage and decided to wait it out as I have just met this man and his friend has been just eaten like a lunchtime snack. I peer into the car and see his friend, hanging upside down starting to decay right in front of our eyes, as his eyes start to turn from a baby blue, into a cloudy haze. I quickly look around and don’t see any zombies around, so I pull out the pistol, point it at DJ’s friend and get ready to pull the trigger, DJ looks up at me, Red-faced, tears running down his face like a steady stream and starts to speak.