by WR Peden
“I wonder if it's that Tripton-Z virus I heard about,” I ask.
The moment I mentioned the name everyone looked at with shock. “How do you know about it.” Someone asks
“Don't mention that around Sarge or anyone else.” Warned another.
“Wait why not? I heard it from some individuals while I was traveling up this way. What's wrong with it?” I ask.
“Not many know about it around here. It's rumored to be the cure but no one has seen this virus or the effects. Rumor has it that on his way this direction ZED met a doctor who had the virus on him.” A soldier responds.
“Could what Constantine told me be true?” I just acknowledge the group and keep to myself just listening to their conversation. “Am I the only one who knows that ZED is the Doctor?”
After waiting around for a little while I look over and see Sgt. Meeks on his way back up to the gate riding in the same jeep that took him down. As he makes his way back we all get up and head back to our spots in the convoy awaiting sarge. Once we are all loaded up, Sgt. Meeks hops in and we continue our patrol toward the headquarters building. One thing that I noticed and struck me as kind of odd was there was no gate nor a checkpoint between the original front gate and the back entrance to the headquarters area until this point. The guard located on the route to the mysterious building is the closest thing. We finish our patrol for the day and head back. We visit a multitude of camps that I was unaware existed dropping various soldiers off for the evening.
As I was dropped off I heard Sgt. Meeks speaks. “Hey kid, good job out there. Sorry about your grandmother, better luck tomorrow. I’ll put a good word in for you to ZED.” He yells out as the camp begins to look at me with mixed reactions.
I head back down to camp and see DJ grilling a nice, juicy steak with just a little sear on each side. The steak has the perfect combination of brown and black grill marks on the sear and the smell is to die for. The smell of burning hickory chippings inside the fire pit amplify the smell and the smoke that filled the area around our tent. I walk over and sit down next to DJ as he stabs into the steak, picks it up and puts it on a plate for me. I thank him as I cut into the steak. As I cut into it I can’t help but take in the aroma and mesmerized about just how juicy this is. The red to brown ratio is chef-like just as the juices that my steak are floating in on the plate. I cut a piece and take a bite. I am not sure if it’s the lack of a quality meal recently or the perfection DJ has cooked this too but the steak is so soft, not chewy at all and almost melts in your mouth as you eat it. I finish the meal as me and DJ chat about the day and joking around. As it gets late I head into the tent, lay down and fall asleep rather quickly after the day I had.
I wake up behind the wheel of my truck driving down the road. Not feeling very good I look around and see Kelly sitting in the passenger seat talking to me but I can't understand what she is saying. Taking my eyes off the road I quickly look in the backseat and see Zoey and Haley as well. Wait what? This can’t be. I look back on the road and see a convoy of vehicles headed my way in a rather fast manner with their headlights and spotlights blinding me as they pass. I lose sight of the road and put the truck in the ditch. I look around to make sure the kids and my wife are ok. Suddenly a soldier walks up to the car.
“Sir, there are two kids, a husband and wife in here.”
“Are they alive?” asks the other soldier
“Yes sir,” he responds
“Bring them, but hurry we gotta get down there,” he demands.
I fight to get the seatbelt unbuckled but can’t. I try and warn Kelly but just as she unbuckles and opens the door one of the men grab her.
“I'm…I'm here to help. We saw the accident, please come the other soldiers will get your kids and husband.” I hear him state.
Suddenly I see light coming from the back door and look around as they are helping my kids out of the truck. I calm down knowing they just told my wife they are helping us. I wait a couple of minutes but no one has come help me. I look around and struggle with the seatbelt, finally getting it to unbuckle. I open my door and climb out as I see none other than Constantine Godfrey in a Soldiers of ZED uniform with my family.
All of a sudden I wake back up in the tent drenched in sweat. I quickly get up, run outside and look around to see the camp just as it was. I go back inside and sit down trying to wrap my head around the dream I just had. Was it a dream? Is that what really happened? I lay back down on my cot staring at the tent ceiling and the thoughts of everything that just happened keep running through my head until I finally drift asleep again.
Chapter 8
The next morning I wake up, get ready and head up to the parking lot as I wait for the crew. As they roll by and stop, I hop in and we continue on our mission for the day. The rest of the day goes by like clockwork, clearing zombies and on the way back we do our final patrol for the day at the fence perimeter with Sgt. Meeks doing his daily check. I talk with the guys more, learning more about where they come from and how they got here. We head back and I get dropped off once again. This continues unchanged for the next couple of weeks as we expand further and further out adding an extra thirty minutes each day going all directions. After the first week, I started to make a map of the area we covered and noticed we were scouting but also evaluating the entire radius around St. Zachery for opposing forces. On one particular route, we drive up the old Hwy 133 towards what is left of the town of Richland towards the Silent Soldiers camp. As we near I speak up.
“Hey what do you know of the Silent Soldiers?” I ask.
“Son, How do you know about them?” Sgt. Meeks asks without answering my question.
“Well sir, I met them not long after I met DJ and they helped keep me alive. I then ran into them again down the road and they took me to their camp.” I answer.
“Do you remember where the camp is? We have been looking for them for quite some time.” he inquires.
“Yes, sir I do it's right up to the road,” I inform him.
Suddenly without any warning, he brings the entire convoy to a halt, jumps out and gets on a satellite style phone. All of us get out and set up a perimeter circle around the area to make sure we are not snuck up on. All while sarge is on the phone I can hear the murmurs from the other guys talking. All I can make out is my name and Constantine through the whispers.
“Hey, you have actually been to one of their camps?” A soldier asks me with a look of excitement.
“Yes, why are you all looking for them?” I curiously ask.
“Well, Constantine use to be a high ranking member of the soldiers. But there are mixed stories about what happened. Some say he discovered the truth behind the building behind the wire that sarge patrols every evening. It's said that after he found out what was there he went straight to ZED and tried to kill him but was overpowered and thrown out to survive on his own. The other story says he just abandoned everything and just left with no rhyme or reason and orders his band of misfits to attack all soldiers they see.” The soldier explains. “All I know is for as long as I have been here, which is close to three months now. We have lost several units due to unexplained attacks that are unknown and could be the silent soldiers or they could be just hordes. We have been searching for any and all signs of them to prove they are more than just myth drawn up by outsiders.” He continued.
“Wow, well I met Constantine and he took us in, fed us and helped us get a few new items. We are just down the road from the little civilization they have.” I explain. “However I know we are heavily equipped but they have a mini armory down there so it would not surprise me if they were taking out convoys. I have even seen a mobile fortress they have that can set up anywhere.” I warn.
Intrigued the soldiers start asking me questions in which I try to answer while we wait. Sgt. Meeks hangs up and climbs back into the humvee.
“Alright Kid, where is this camp?” He asks.
“Just before you get to the Gasconade
bridge you're going to take the path into the field on the left and follow it around to the banks. They have a little camp built into the banks and under the bridge on both sides.” I answer. “The camp is set up like a sophistical little town complete with an armory, trade post and modified commercial storage boxes converted into little homes.
Sarge gets on the radio and assigns everyone a direction. “Ok gentlemen, this is the closest we have been to these guys in a while. We need to take Constantine alive.”
He instructs. Just as he finishes talking we head of the road and go across the field following the same path I took the last time I was here. We come to a screeching halt as our entire crew jumps out, weapons drawn as we jump down to the bank. The site catches me off guard as all the buildings are still there but no sign of anyone here. I look around and the fire is still lit so they couldn’t have left long ago. We search every inch of the camp but come up empty handed with no signs of anyone around.
“They will be back, but let's make sure there isn't anything here,” Sarge instructs.
“Wait, Sarge wouldn’t it be better to ransack the place and take the supplies and leave their camp so that they know they have been hit, but are more likely to return and rebuild here so we know they are here. We can send a few scouts around in a couple of days to keep an eye on it.” I suggest.
“I guess you have a point son. Just raid the place this time.” He barks.
I walk with my crew back up to the humvee as the rest of the scout's scourer and pillage through all the homes. After they finish the scavenger hunt I sit atop the Humvee and take sniper like shots into random zombies in the field as I work on my shooting skills and sighting my weapon in. Upon finishing everyone loads up and we continue our normal patrol without finding any of the Silent Soldiers.
Chapter 9
After a couple of months working with Sgt. Meek’s scout team we finish our normal routine and start to head back but make an unannounced stop at headquarters. Sgt. Meeks instructs for everyone to get out and fall into formation. After a few minutes, ZED himself comes out and address Sgt. Meeks. After a brief conversation Sgt. Meeks calls me up to him. Completely caught off guard and unaware of any wrongdoing I have done, I head up to the front trying to figure out what is going.
“Well kid, you have been with us for a little while now. I have been keeping a record of your performance and have been speaking directly with ZED. How do you like it here?” Sarge asks?
“It's fine Sarge. No issues at all.” I reply in a curious tone.
“When you came here I saw something in you but I had to be sure. I decided to put you with Sgt. Meeks to keep an eye out for you. The sergeant here is one of my best men. You have shown us loyalty, respect and a dedication to our cause. I would like to formally make you a Soldier.” ZED offers his left hand with the patch and his right hand under his left for a handshake.
I look around at the soldiers in a promotion like formation and graciously accept the formal introduction into the Soldiers of ZED.
“Thank you, Sir. I will wear the patch proud and you will not be disappointed." I respond as I take the patch from ZED. “During my time here and working with sarge, I have to say my mind has changed from my initial point of view. On my path to here I have heard a variety of things both good and bad about the Soldiers but I feel as if I will make a great addition to the team."
“Welcome aboard. Oh, one more thing. Although you are the newest member of the Soldiers, I have spoken with Sgt. Meeks and he would like to make you a corporal and for you to be in charge of your own squad under him.” ZED states.
“Are you sure Sir, there are many men who have been here longer than I feel are more worthy of this.” I acknowledge.
“Nope, I want you kid. I see something in you.” Sgt. Meeks answers.
I look around and notice the acceptance of the squad. But would they continue to feel this way or is it only because we are in front of ZED himself.
“I accept,” I respond as ZED and Sgt. Meeks pin corporal stripes on my collar in a military like promotion ceremony. Sgt. Meeks releases the squad but requested for me to stay to go over some of the rules and regulations of the organization I must uphold. We walk inside the headquarters building while sarge is going over the standard rules and regulations. During this time he also gives me a tour of the headquarters building letting me know, now due to my rank and position I have authority anywhere in the building at any time. We continue to tour the massive building from a top notch kitchen with some of the most outstanding cuisines you can think of to state of the art communications between established communities. We get near ZED’s office and I suddenly remember the guarded room at the end of the hall when I was first introduced to ZED.
“Hey Sarge”
“Yes, Corporal” Sarge answers with a smile.
“What's in the room at the end of the hall by ZED’s office? When you first introduced me to ZED I saw it but figured I shouldn't push my limits at that time. You did state earlier I know have access to everywhere in the building correct?” I ask.
“Yes, that is correct. Let's go check it out and you can see for yourself. Just remember some things such as that room cannot be discussed outside of the building due to the content it contains, the potential effects and chaos it can cause if others were to find out.” instructs Meeks.
We head towards the room at the end of the hall with my curiosity at the highest. As we approach the two guards move aside and allow us to enter with absolutely no fuss. As we enter the room the sight before me is intriguing. Inside the room are hundreds of computers, maps and various other pieces of technology with various colors laid out. I stop and look at one of the computers and see that it's a map of Lebanon. Every building, road, and location have a color that matches its respective key showing what buildings have been scouted, the safe, where an outbreak has occurred or started. Every computer has a different location on it from the surrounding areas and the maps on the wall are tracking the outbreak in the state and neighboring states.
“So this is what we are doing all the scouting for?” I inquire
“Yes, ZED is trying to find out what has caused the outbreak, where it has started in each town and how the zombies are progressing. Have you noticed how in certain areas the zombies are easier to kill and are like the stereotypical mindless walking drones but in others, they tend to have better movement? That is what we are trying to figure out so we can get hold of it.” says Meeks. “Remind me tomorrow after our patrol and I will let you come with me into the building behind the wire.”
“This is amazing. Have we figured out where it all started period?” I ask
“Not exactly. We have figured out that these things are evolving and that the Silent Soldiers are trying to destroy us at every turn. This is why this information cannot leave here.” Meeks insists.
I continue to look around trying to wrap my head around everything. After what seemed like an hour but was realistically only a couple of minutes, Meeks and I head out. We head back to town and toward camp. I see DJ walking and ask to be dropped off near him in which sarge does with no issues.
“Hey Buddy, How's it going for you?” I ask
“Great, wow is it true? Are you really a member of the Soldiers of ZED?” DJ asks as he rubs the corporal stripes.
“Yep,” I answer as I pull out my patch. “Want to help me sew it on this evening?”
“Sure thing. Oh, when we get back remind me to tell you what Mike over at the general store told me.” DJ requests.
Intrigued I continue to walk with DJ and hear about his day as I tell him a little about mine. Over the last couple of months DJ and I have become best friends and someone I can rely on in a time of uncertainty and undead. We finally make it back to the tent, I start cooking as DJ starts telling me about what Mike told him.
“So I know you have been looking for your family and all. Well, Mike said a couple months back, way back before we got to St. Zachery h
e remembers a woman and her two daughters coming through town with the Soldiers of ZED and that Constantine guy we met.” States DJ
As he is talking, I start thinking to myself where could they be. I never told DJ of my detailed flashback or how I remember them being taken and all.
“... they were here for a couple of weeks or so, but then one day vanished and that's when Constantine turned on the Soldiers.” DJ finished.
“Wait for what, so they just disappeared? Did they go with Constantine? Did they turn? What happened?” I frantically ask raising my voice.
“Sorry, I don’t know.” DJ answers with fear in his voice.
“Everything is starting to make sense to me at this time. Constantine tried to brainwash me by telling me all of those stories about ZED just to hide the fact he knew about my family but didn't want me to know.” I tell DJ. “That's fine, I’ll let the guys know tomorrow at work and this will be addressed quickly. The Silent Soldiers have been silent long enough, they will have to answer to me.”
DJ just looks at me but doesn’t respond. I continue cooking, replaying the day I lost them in my head over and over. DJ and I have a very quiet awkward dinner with very little chit chat unlike our normal dinner.
“Thank you, DJ. I need you to do me a favor while I'm out tomorrow.” I ask.
“Sure, anything friend,” DJ responds.
“The patrol won’t be by until the afternoon, so I need you to take our arsenal out to the building I told you about. Just head out of the camp, take a right onto the interstate then take the first ramp and continue into the old base following the fence line. You will see the mark of the Soldiers on the building inside the fence, but you will see a building next to the fence with an alley next to it. Go park in there, head upstairs and you will find the hidden room. Put our extra weapons and supplies in there and come back to camp.” I instruct.
“What for? Are we leaving? I thought you just became part of the Soldiers.” DJ asks while confused.