On this thought, the General moves across a little while looking to those in the room as he continues. "The infected of all things appears to hunt, and more or less in a pack formation. The infected will
come at you looking to bite, so wear full body kit and head gear. Mount your silences, as any noise attracts their attention and preferably a one shot kill. Head shots best, and conserve your ammo. We’ve learned a lot in the last few hours through one to one combat, however they have strengths unseen before. Their heightened senses, with that showing incredible strength, speed and agility. If you do come into contact, you become an instant risk to the rest of your team. If at any point you are bitten, it’ll be thirty seconds before you begin to turn. Unfortunately you will no longer be one of us and the necessary action must be taken to extinguish the threat. Take care out there, and go get em!"
The room silence immediately breaks with the room erupting to respond. "Yes Sir!"
Upon this the people in the room disperse, turning to chatter between many and others moving back to their posts as Jim moves up with the General. The General turns to the Secretary of Defense who’s coming in closer himself then mentions quietly toward the General.
"As quick as you can! I’ll be talking to the president again shortly."
The General acknowledges, while Jim voices to the Secretary of Defense who looks toward him upon doing so.
"We’ll do our best Sir!"
With men and women moving out or still rising from their seats, with some still talking, Jim moves over to John and Mike.
Both are standing up and pushing their chairs in with Jim saying to them both upon approach before coaxing outside to follow.
"Let’s go get you kitted up!"
John and Mike follow Jim’s lead, even though John is well aware of the location of the armory, as many others also move through the corridor near and along side them.
Upon reaching the armory, the gear and weaponry is being distributed and marked off by another who checks while looking at the correct gear for their required task ahead.
John readies himself as though he’d never left, and helping Mike along with Jim who also assists. Mike feeling somewhat weighed down with Jim noticing who then voices.
"There we go, fits like a glove!"
Jim appears to laugh a little, as Mike feels uncomfortable tightening up while John looks on with a smile before saying.
"Was made for you!"
Mike looks to John while slightly shaking is head. "Yeah if I’d been in training?!"
Mike now appearing somewhat puffed and tired from getting ready, as he then looks over to Jim who then hands him a pair of gloves while making light of the situation goes on to say.
"Hm, you look tired and out of breath. Now I don’t mind if you sleep on the way." Mike looks to Jim with a somewhat vacant look on the comment.
"A sleep?"
John begins to chuckle on Jim’s humorous tone while appearing to hear Mike say "Asleep" then voicing, "He’s had a Nana nap already."
Mike in a defensive tone voices to both men who are clearly winding him up. "I’ve been up all night you know?!"
John smiles knowingly, as Jim voices to Mike while later pointing out the gloves in hand. "Conserve your energy, and put those on when we get there.
Jim looks over to John with a smirk who is smiling shaking his head appearing to contain a laugh, as all three appear jovial toward one another with Mike shaking his head then laughing a little at the two.
"Smart asses!"
Upon hearing this, John can no longer contain himself and starts laughing. "Ha ha come on, we’ll go see the ladies on the way."
John and Jim look toward Mike who sees in Johns eyes the inclination of Mike’s affections toward Lizzie and with a smile responds.
"Yeah you know!"
Jim looks to them both with a smile while enjoying the moment before moving on to say. "I’ll meet you out there shortly."
John acknowledges with Mike thinking of Lizzie, yet saying in response to Jim. "Sweet."
As they depart, leaving Jim and walking quickly in the opposite direction toward the lounge room and canteen.
CHAPTER 22
Farewell
As the mid afternoon sun streams down, John and Mike soon enter into the base family lounge room offset from the canteen while noticing all six have paired up between each other.
John's younger children Charlotte and Sean are gaming, while Danny is sitting beside Jennifer who is lying down on the couch next to him.
Both in deep conversation, are Sue and Lizzie who sit across from each other at one of the tables.
John looks on noticing this, soon turns to Mike as they move closer to the ladies. "This could be trouble?!"
Mike slightly turns to John then looks on to Lizzie. "They seem to get on alright?!"
John laughs a little as the attention of the two ladies turns to Mike upon over hearing his words, with him then blushing slightly as Lizzie looks on to him with a warm smile.
Sue somewhat looks at the two men sideways with a grin on there thinking before asking them both. "What are you two scheming?"
As John looks to Mike on the question with a smirk, although doesn't want to embarrass Mike anymore than what he might be already can only respond with a simple.
"Just, um. Yeah?!"
Mike gives John a jovial nudge with his elbow for John to stop, but only makes it more obvious to Lizzie as to what Mike is thinking as she looks deeper into his eyes as the attraction deepens between them.
Although still appearing slightly blushed, Mike then moves forward closer toward Lizzie before sitting with her.
John makes his way around to Sue and gives her a kiss on approach before she mentions his attire. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen you all dressed up like this?!"
John looks over himself briefly before responding.
"Yeah, it all feels a bit heavier than what I remembered."
Sue smiles at her husband with a cheeky look in her eye.
"It was a few years ago though, and you’re no spring chicken!"
Sue appears to giggle on her remark while John broadly smiles at his cheeky wife before reminding her.
"You and me both babe!"
Sue leans back slightly at Johns words. "What, you’re not supposed to say that?!"
John moves in closer toward Sue.
"Sorry Madam, I forget that sometimes?!"
Sue laughs a little, with John doing so also as their hands meet to hold each others with hers
squeezing his a little on contact as Sue tells John. "Ooh, you’re asking for trouble Mister."
John looks deep into her eyes with a cheeky grin while responding, "Is that right?!"
Sue nods her head while glowing from the love they have toward one another. "You just wait, and you know I’ll come find you later."
John leans forward slightly as he responds. "I know, and look forward to it."
Sue moves forward to kiss John, before pulling away moments later as they hear, and then see Jim entering the room. John asking him on approach with the others also looking toward Jim.
"Sorry Jim, are we late?"
Jim shakes his head as he moves on to say, "No you’re all good, but if the base is evacuated then everyone will be moved up state for the time being." as John listens.
"Okay."
Sue while looking on to her husband, moments later turns to Jim, and thankful for everything he has done to help her family on this day.
"Thank you Jim, appreciate you looking out for us!" "Anytime Sue, but you know yourself, we’re family!"
Lizzie upon hearing Jim’s last words immediately responds appearing to say to herself, "Oh, that’s really nice!" although all at the table hear including Jim with Mike nodding and agreeing "It is!"
Lizzie reaches over and places her hand on Mikes who looks straight to her and gently holds her hand too as he smiles with her sending
one in return.
Sue turns her direction to the kids who are having fun on the games as Lizzie soon looks on with Mike following her gaze.
"You kids want to see your dad before he goes?"
Charlotte and Sean however, both engrossed in the game, although briefly look over and both wave while saying almost together.
"Bye Dad see you soon!" "Love you Dad!"
Upon saying this, Charlotte blows a kiss toward John who instantly catches and returns one as he stands while saying, to the delight of Charlotte.
"Lot’s of love, and see you both soon!"
Sean turns back to his Dad on hearing and is somewhat embarrassed to hear the expression of love in the presence of some who are strangers to him then quickly turns back to the gaming.
Sue looks to John with a smile, as he turns to her and before having a chance to say as she beats him to it.
"You got to go, I know."
Sue rises from her seat to give her husband a long hug, holding him tight and sighs while in his
embrace as he tells her. "Back soon."
"I can’t wait and be safe!"
John and Sue pull back from the embrace as they look into each others eyes, and before John moves off he says to Danny while also turning his attention to Jennifer.
"You look after yourselves, and hope you’re doing okay there Jennifer." Jennifer returns a smile to John before letting him know.
"All good, thank you!"
Danny looks to Jennifer upon her voicing her wellbeing, and then to his father as they make eye contact.
With John acknowledging the appreciation from Danny sending him a wink then begins to move on out as he looks to Mike, who is saying goodbye to Lizzie who finishes giving him a hug then plants a kiss on his cheek before saying in his ear.
"Come back to me!"
Mike acknowledges with a kiss on the cheek, as they make eye contact on her moving back, before the three men then move off together and out of the main doors toward the awaiting helicopters.
CHAPTER 23
Return To Virotel
The three men, Jim, John and Mike head closer toward the helicopters now in view to take the units who are waiting to head on in to the compound.
As they move on toward the tarmac, Mike turns to Jim on approach.
"Is that all the men there is?"
"For now yes, but more are coming. Our numbers are stretched and it'll take some time for the full cavalry to arrive."
John upon hearing Jim expresses his view to the two beside him.
"In saying that, I always said we were too committed elsewhere in the world for an event like this on our home turf!"
While acknowledging this, Jim responds.
"That you did my friend!"
John looks to Jim momentarily while continuing forward.
"At least we’ve got some protection."
Mike looks toward the men ahead, and back to both John and Jim.
"You know as well as I do that we need more than this?!"
Although knowing Mike could be right, Jim also stands by the fact that you never know until you get there and the mission has to move forward regardless.
"We just have to go get it, and trust that backup will arrive in time as we expect."
The three men reach the awaiting helicopters as John is reacquainted and introduced to the new soldiers of the unit he was once a part of, then all disperse loading themselves on board for the flight.
As the men all sit in the helicopter wondering what’s install for them on arrival at the compound, with Mike and John also deep in thought from their own experiences.
Soon enough the team are once again flying over the outskirts of the city, as two Apache helicopters soon join alongside in flight however then part ways to create the necessary diversion.
Meanwhile, back in the Civilian Lounge room, Danny sitting with Jennifer, who is lying on the couch with her head rested on Danny’s lap opens her eyes to see her boyfriend with his eyes shut and head laid back on the headrest of the couch.
Jennifer smiles and then looks over to Sean and Charlotte who are still playing games although this time accompanied with Sue.
Lizzie being the reporter she was, is now standing at the window watching out on the movements of the men and women in uniform.
Jennifer looks back up to Danny who is clearly fast asleep, as she then pulls herself up while swinging her body around to sit next to him before nudging him awake.
He soon pulls his head forward, opening his eyes looking to her as she looks over him asking.
"Hey you, did you have a good sleep?"
Danny moves his neck and head left to right while stretching out his neck muscles as he steadily comes to replies.
"Ah, yeah it was. Must of needed it."
Jennifer appearing refreshed and restless soon asks.
"Can we go for a walk or something, I need to stretch my legs."
With one final stretch, Danny responds to her liking.
"Good idea, I do too."
Lizzie hears the waking two and looks over to the pair on the couch as Jennifer latches onto Danny’s hand while wanting to make a move with Lizzie asking.
"Can I come?"
Both Danny and Jennifer look over toward Lizzie in some form of surprise upon the question with Jennifer responding vocally.
"Of course!"
Sue hears the three in communication with each other and looks over before Danny looks across to let her know.
"Mum, we’re just going for a walk."
Sue slightly rolls her eyes with a smile knowing full well of what her Son might get up to within the base.
"Okay, and stay out of trouble."
Danny responds cheekily "Yes Mum, we’ll try," with Jennifer and Lizzie looking on.
Sue smile's back at the response from Danny, as she then watches them exit through the main doors. Sean notices this and turns to his mother while thinking then eventually asking.
"Aw, can we go too mum?"
"I thought you wanted to beat Charlotte? Anyway they won’t be long."
"Yeah I’m going to win this time."
Charlotte laughs upon her brothers words.
"You’re funny Sean, you’ve lost nearly every game!"
Sean shows some frustration while voicing to Charlotte.
"So!"
As he then turns again, concentrating on the game appearing to want to win over his younger sister even more as Sue smile's on at the two in front of her.
CHAPTER 24
City In Ruin
Now on approach toward the compound from within the helicopter, as the infected appear to have advanced further than Jim would have previously thought voices to himself although Frankie overhears.
"We’ll have to be quicker than I thought!" "In and out!"
With the two men looking at and acknowledging one another, Mike hears watching the two, then turns his head back facing the ground appearing to see infected groups move toward the base as he tries to focus down on them.
The infected members of one group watch the helicopters fly overhead for a moment, with primitive grunts, snarls and snorts coming from them as they look up then toward one another.
Before long they turn looking forward to the direction the helicopters had come from and rushing forward on foot with more vocal sounds.
Further on the devastating results of the outbreak at ground level are clear, with the city overrun, they watch the panicked and frighten continuing to flee the city.
Abandoning their vehicles due to the increasing congestion now in the suburbs toward the outskirts.
Jim looks peering down soon mentioning.
"You can tell the difference."
John, Mike, and Frankie with the others in the helicopter look down also noticing a difference in the movements of the beings below as Jim moves on to say.
"See the civilians are panicked and sporadic. Whereas the inf
ected are organized and methodical in there chase. Picking the strong from the weak, more or less choosing their targets."
Frankie nods his head to agree as he looks on himself.
"I know what you mean, like a pack of wolves."
The men look down witnessing all events unfolding before them as they draw nearer to the compound.
The helicopters with all personnel begin to descend toward the grounds with the units soon extracting at ground level for and cover.
The incoming load of Jim, John, Mike, Frankie and company who ready themselves for moving out onto the rooftop toward the elevator shaft.
Unbeknown to them all, the infected are not only pack like beings, but will also defend their territory they claim as their own.
The compound is rife with life, waiting to pounce on these visitors arriving in vehicles from the sky.
With the cover now in position and distractions taking place further afield, Jim and company touch down on the roof with the pilot easing on the throttle ready for the crew to disembark.
They all remove themselves from the helicopter then move on forward toward the maintenance portholes over the lift shafts with Frankie taking point.
A few moments later, shots begin to be heard at ground level as an assault takes place from the new occupants of the compound toward the unwelcome visitors which includes Sergeant.
With Frankie still somewhat motioning forward, and Jim also upon hearing this moves across to the edge of the rooftop immediately seeing the swift movements of the infected toward his men below as Sergeant appears to be fighting well.
Moments later the rooftop door bursts open with the infected moving swiftly toward them as well, as Frankie immediately fires upon while beginning to pace backward while shouting.
"It’s an ambush!"
The pilot sees this all, then readies for an immediate takeoff.
Jim upon firstly hearing, then seeing races back toward the helicopter while shouting out to his platoon before opening fire on the approaching who try to duck and weave the bullets.
Viral Evolution (Book 1): Retrovirus Page 15