by Gary Hickman
They entered the warehouse and found themselves in the maintenance shop. There were a few bikes in pieces and a couple other waiting for repairs. Those repairs were probably never coming. They continued through a doorway on the right and came out into the showroom.
There were a few used bikes sitting there, but in pristine condition. With it being dark and Priest’s vision being filtered through the NVG’s, it made it hard to see the immaculate condition of the bikes in the showroom.
As he continued to scan, his eyes stopped on a particular bike sitting by itself. We walked over to it and ran his hands over it. Shaw joined him after noticing that he had stopped.
“Brand new Kawasaki Ninja 1000,” Priest said, somewhat in a daze.
“Yep, you think it fits the bill?”
“Shit, yeah!” Priest said, trying to contain himself. After a quick search, they found the keys and some riding gear in the pro shop. Priest turned the bike on to walk it out of the shop. They were back out at the Jeep and with Priest straddling the bike.
“Okay, when I crank this thing it will be loud as shit, you ready to roll out?” Shaw gave Priest the thumbs up. Priest cranked the Ninja, and it growled to life. He put it in gear and took off like a shot.
“Shit,” Shaw had to stomp on the Jeep to keep up with Priest. “Crazy son of a bitch!”
Priest had a feeling come over him he hadn’t experienced in a long time. The freedom of riding a bike on the open road. He thought about Lia holding on to him while they cruised all day and experiencing the freedom together. Probably why he had grabbed an extra set of gear from the shop.
The two reached the compound and settled in for the night.
The next morning everyone was in the dining hall, eating breakfast and listening to Shaw and Priest tell the story of obtaining the motorcycle. They all joked about riding it and how cool it was to have it as part of their transportation options.
Webb looked at Priest as he was pouring hot sauce on his eggs, “I think we need to check in with the scientists and see where we are with things.”. The eggs were powdered, but with the hot sauce, they weren’t too bad.
“I was thinking the same thing, but I kind of thought you were already in the know,” Priest said with a sly smile on his face.
“Dude, shut up,” Webb said shyly.
Priest just laughed, “Yeah, we can go down there and check it out.” Minutes later, the two entered the lab. Everyone was busy looking through microscopes, mixing samples and other research type actions. That’s what it looked like to Webb and Priest, anyway.
They saw Dr. Holtz zipping around to all the different stations with his bucket o’coffee. As Webb and Priest walked in, he noticed them with a look of annoyance on his face. He didn’t stop to address, but kept on doing what he was doing. Webb and Priest looked at each other with a smirk.
“I think we ought to get our update from Caulfield,” Webb said.
“Agreed.” They walked over to Dr. Caulfield, who was now out of his splint.
“Hello gentlemen. What can I do for you?” Caulfield greeted them.
“Just came down to see how things are going,” Webb said.
“Well, we are making some progress in reverse engineering this virus but we keep hitting a brick wall.”
“How so?”
“We can reverse engineer the virus, find all the chemical components, the composition strings and compound links. The issue is we still need to know how all this works with the human body. We have a theory that the virus interacts and alters the chemicals in the brain to elicit specific behaviors and reactions. We don’t know that for sure, but we are speculating. What we don’t know is the complete affects the virus has on the body. How it affects specific organs, what does it do to the cells in the blood? Does it mutate a person’s DNA? Based on the things we have seen with the infected, this is much more than just a chemical imbalance in the brain. Where does the strength come from? What about the indestructibility and the extreme rage, while maintaining the coordination and instincts to work together? Bottom line, there is still so much we do not know.”
“Ok Doc, so hearing everything you are saying, it sounds to me you don’t have everything you need. So, let’s hear it,” Webb prodded.
“You will not like it.”
“Probably not, but spit it out,” Priest interjected.
“We need a viable infected specimen.” Both Webb and Priest did a face plant.
Priest spoke up, “When you say viable, am I to assume you mean “live” specimen?”
“You assume correctly, Sargent. If you were to acquire a dead specimen, then we would have no way to measure any electrical impulses from the brain, which is one of the big mysteries we need to solve.”
“Shit, I knew he was going to say that,” Webb groaned. He looked at Dr. Caulfield, “You are sure that it is that important or are you just satisfying your curiosity?”
Dr. Caulfield looked at him for a minute and said, “Yes.”
“Damn, that will be a cluster fuck,” Priest said.
The two left the lab and were walking back toward the CC when they ran into Izzy.
“Hey babe, what kind of trouble are you doing getting into today?”
“We just had a conversation with Dr. Caulfield and he said you have no more viable samples.”
“Well, that is true.”
“We are discussing getting a specimen for you today.”
She looked at him, “You guys are really going to trap an infected?”
“Well, Caulfield says you guys have to have one. Is that not true?”
Izzy let out a breath, “I don’t know if we exactly have to have one, but it would probably cut our time significantly, if we did.”
“So, when you say cut time, what do you mean?”
She looked up at the ceiling and then back to Webb, “I’d say weeks, maybe a couple months versus 6-8 months.”
Webb’s eyes got bit, “That much impact?”
“Afraid so.”
“Well, I guess that confirms it. We go out today and capture a specimen.”
“Ok, but be careful, please.”
“I will.”
“We might need you for our objective planning. Can you be in the Load Out room in about an hour?”
“If you need me there, yes.” She then gave Webb a kiss and walked off towards the lab.
Webb turned to Priest, “Let’s round up the team and see about planning this OP,” Webb instructed. Half an hour later, the entire team including Izzy was in the Load Out Room. Webb was addressing the group, “We have an important mission to execute ASAP. The scientists working here have hit a brick wall as far as progress. Bottom line, they need a “live” infected specimen to test.”
There was an audible groan from across the room. “Believe me, I don’t like it any better than you do, and I’m not comfortable putting the team in unnecessary danger trying to catch one of these infected. I am less comfortable having a live infected INSIDE the facility, much less the compound, but there you go. So, we need a plan to capture one of these things as safely as possible.” Webb looked around, then nodded to Priest. “You’re up, Sarge.”
“Ok, here is how it will go. I will run as the chicken on the bike to flush out any infected. Hopefully, the bike’s speed and maneuverability will allow me to stay a few steps ahead of any infected. To maintain as much safety as possible, we will take this out on the highway and out of the town. The town has way too many ambush opportunities, but out on the highway, we can see them coming. Shaw, Doc and Neville will be in the Jeep and they will be in the chase car.”
We
bb looked confused at Priest, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, I didn’t hear my name in there.”
“No Sir, you didn’t, and it was on purpose. If this thing goes sideways, and I mean worst-case scenario, then we need someone here who can maintain command. We both can’t be out there and risk both of us being killed. Things are way too important here for both of us to be out of the picture.”
Webb protested, but stopped. He knew Priest was right, no matter how much he hated it. “Fuck!”
“You must stay home with me,” Izzy joked. Webb sighed.
Priest smiled at him and continued, “Once you guys narrow down a target, Neville will take out its legs. This will decrease its mobility and make it somewhat easier to capture. Shaw will have on thick protective gloves and arm and head protection. We will manhandle the infected and get it secure enough for us to slap on cuffs and bind its legs. Also, to make sure we slap that belt on its mouth.”
Shaw added, “I got a sack we can throw over its head so none of the nasty spit and saliva gets on anyone during the melee.”
“Excellent idea!” Priest nodded his head. “Questions?”
Doc spoke up, “What if you run into the guys who shot this place up?”
“Good question. I’ll run and let Shaw light them up with the M48. If the shit hits the fan like that, then we bail on the infected and regroup back here at the compound. We face them together on our turf. Ok, gear up. We leave in thirty.”
CHAPTER 36
Priest had on the riding gear on that he swiped from the bike shop. He looked at the jacket and pants and they made sense. Both were thick leather to protect the rider from road rash, and there was no way the infected could bite through it either. Not to mention, the helmet was protection and a weapon all rolled into one.
Priest checked his M4 and slung it on his back, then secured his thigh holster for his PPQ. He walked out to see everyone out in the compound lot waiting on him. “Ok, we got everything?”
“Yep, all loaded up and ready to go,” Shaw answered.
Priest thought to himself, “Your men are top-notch, do you really need to ask?” He cleared his head and focused on the mission. He turned towards the bike, and Lia walked up to him.
She gave him a longing kiss. “Please be careful and come back soon.”
Priest cracked a smile, “Of course, you think I want to leave a beautiful creature like you alone with these trolls?”
“Hey, I resemble that remark,” Shaw yelled. Priest shook his head as he put on his helmet. He started up the Ninja and looked over at Shaw and he gave him a thumbs up.
They had modified his squad comms to plug into the speakers and microphone inside the motorcycle helmet. “This is Father, testing out the helmet comm. Do you copy?”
“Read you, Father,” Shaw responded.
“Ok then, lets rock-and-roll.” Priest took off on the Ninja with Shaw following close behind. They made their way east until they reached Rt. 421 and then Priest opened up on the throttle and took off down the highway. “Woo-hoo,” He yelled.
“Damn, Sarge. Where did you go?” “Around the earth a couple times,” he laughed. Priest backed off and looked around for any infected. There were several car pile-ups that could have been likely ambush locations and Priest gave those a wide berth.
As he proceeded down the highway, some movement caught his eye farther up the road. The high grass on his left moved until suddenly a figure on all fours came rushing out.
Priest saw it and what he thought was all fours turned out to be both legs ripped off right at the knee. This thing was running on its hands and the stumps, but was still incredibly fast and moved out to throw itself in front of Priest’s bike. “What the fuck?” he yelled in surprise. As he leaned to the right to maneuver around it, another figure shot out of the tall grass on the right side.
Priest had just enough time to jerk the throttle back and narrowly shoot by the figure reaching for him. He then braked and whipped the bike around in a 180-degree slide. He dropped the throttle and rode back toward the infected now running his way, reaching for him.
Priest shot by him again and then slowed down. As he had hoped, the infected came after him. Priest stayed just ahead of the infected, leading it back toward Shaw.
The infected following Priest was actually quite fast, but not fast enough for the Ninja. Priest kept looking back to make sure it was following and noticed it was a young man who looked college age. He had on an Appalachian State hoodie, and Priest wondered if maybe he had been a track star in the college. It brought on feelings of sadness thinking about who this young man was. Who were his friends and family? Did he have a girlfriend? What were his plans after college?
It made Priest think about how much would have been possible in this young man’s life if not for the virus. He thought of the young man getting a job, settling down and raising a family, but all of that was gone now.
Priest felt for the man, and it made him sad to think about everything this young man lost. Now he was about to become a guinea pig and dissected like a class room biology experiment.
Priest saw Shaw heading for him and slowed so the infected could catch up. Priest rode to the opposite side of the Jeep as Neville hung out the rear window and took aim, POP! His first shot blew out the infected right femur and it fell and Shaw slowed a bit as they approached.
The infected struggled to stand for a brief second. POP, Neville’s second shot shattered its left femur, and it went down. Shaw stopped just short as the infected was crawling for them. Priest circled back and came up behind the infected.
Shaw ran over and mounted the thing’s back grabbing both arms allowing Neville to slap on the handcuffs. Shaw then grabbed its legs and brought them up toward its handcuffed arms, and Neville looped one of the zip cuffs around the handcuffs and secured its legs.
Priest was there putting a belt on the thing’s face, but it kept moving its head trying to bite him. He finally attached the belt and cinched it tight. There was a crack sound before he finished securing it.
Priest went to put the mask on when they heard a distant sound. It was faint but getting louder and definitely the sound of vehicle engines.
“Shit, we got company,” Shaw yelled.
“Stow that fucker in the back and let’s prepare for our guests,” Priest ordered. He got on the radio, “HQ, this is Father, do you copy?”
“Go ahead, Father.”
“We are about 5 miles east on 421 and we have company driving up our way. Don’t know if they are friend or foe, but could use some backup in case things go sideways.”
“Copy that Father, we’re mobilizing.”
Shaw set up his M48 in the open window of the open Jeep door and Neville set up on the other door.
Priest looked over at Neville as he set up his sniper rifle, “What do you got, Neville?”
“Two pickups with 5 occupants a piece and they look to be armed. Small weapons, a couple M4’s, an A-K and some shotguns. They are not infected, so they could be the ones who have been hitting the CDC facility?”
“Probably so,” Priest replied.
“I don’t see anyone in the truck’s bed, sitting up at least. They could be hunkered down, ready to spring an ambush.”
“Okay, we’ll let them get about 75 yards and see how determined they are,” Priest ordered. The trucks kept coming at a decent speed, “Ok Shaw, put a couple rounds across their bow.” Priest said as they were within 100 yards.
Shaw let off a three-round burst right in front of the lead truck, but both stopped and sat there. Priest raised his hand to stop and walked out into the road where he could be seen. He glanced over to Neville.
“Don’t w
orry Sarge, I got the bead on them. If they so much as scratch their ass, I’ll push their off button.” Priest nodded. The driver and passenger got out of the truck and walked to stand in front of it. They both had M4 rifles, but were pointed down.
The driver was an older man with a potbelly, salt and pepper beard and had on a baseball cap which had a logo that Priest couldn’t make out. His passenger was a young, skinny man with slicked back hair gathered into a ponytail. Both sides of his head were shaved, and he sported a sleeveless t-shirt.
The older man addressed Priest, “You boys ain’t from around here. I know that because I know everyone around these parts.”
“No sir, we’re not,” Priest answered.
“You the ones that have moved into that underground bunker on the hill?”
“Yes, sir, we are.”
“What are all you people doing up there?” Priest could feel things would go south, eventually.
“Well, that would be our business, but is there something we can do for you?”
“You can start by not givin’ me no sass and answer my fucking questions.” Yep, this was escalating, Priest thought. Although the thought didn’t really bother him in the slightest.
“Neville, what do you got?” Priest said softly.
“Same as before, and I have seen no one reaching for a weapon. They are just sitting there right now.”
“If shit jumps off, you take out the passenger. He’s young and looks like he may have an itchy trigger finger.”
“Got it Sarge.”
Priest turned his attention back to the driver. “We’ll answer questions, as long as it has nothing to do with what we are doing at the facility.”
“All righty then. Who are you fellas?”
“I’m Master Sargent Alex Priest from the US Army and with me is SSG Jeremiah Shaw and Sargent Renaldo Neville.”