“What are you going to do if I don’t?” asks Colonel Meyers in a condescending tone of voice.
WHAPP!
Suddenly Colonel Meyers is thrown to the pavement by Commander Pine.
Rich witnesses Commander Pine toss Colonel Meyers to the pavement with a textbook Judo hip toss.
Commander Pine looks down at Colonel Meyers and says, “Don’t ever touch me again, or you’ll end up right back on your ass.”
Commander Pine adjusts her shirt and walks into the medical building.
Rich smirks and laughs at the sight of Colonel Meyers being frustrated after getting up from the pavement.
Rich picks up his radio and says, “Commander Pine please.”
Commander Pine picks up her radio and says, “This is Commander Pine.”
“Everything okay down there?” asks Rich into his radio.
“Yeah, everything is good. We are all good down here in the medical building. How are you?” asks Commander Pine over the radio.
“Just checking. I just witnessed an arrogant Colonel being tossed like a rag doll outside,” says Rich over the radio.
“You saw that huh? Guess my fifteen years of Judo training paid off,” says Commander Pine into her radio.
“Just be careful Commander,” says Rich into his radio.
“I will Rich, I will,” says Commander Pine into her radio.
“I will talk to you later Commander,” says Rich into her radio.
“I look forward to it, Rich. I’ll see you later,” says Commander Pine into her radio.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Rich looks at his closed office door and says, “Come in.”
Rebecca enters Rich’s office.
“Sir, this fax just came for you,” says Rebecca as she hands Rich a piece of paper.
Rich looks at the piece of paper and says, “Thank you Rebecca.”
“Sir, can I talk with you for a second?” asks Rebecca.
“Sure, take a seat. What’s up?” asks Rich.
Rebecca sits down in a chair in front of Rich’s desk.
“Well, sir. We have so many new faces around here. Most of them are fine, but a couple of the new soldiers are pretty rude and disrespectful,” says Rebecca.
“What happened?” asks Rich.
“Nothing really, but some of the soldiers are making me feel uncomfortable at times in the cafeteria and around the base,” says Rebecca.
“Has anyone touched you? Or been inappropriate?” asks Rich.
“A couple men have just said some things, but no one has touched me,” says Rebecca.
“Just be careful with all these new faces. Let me know if someone crosses the line or makes you feel uncomfortable again. Don’t hesitate to come find me. You are like family Rebecca,” says Rich.
“Thank you, sir. I will,” says Rebecca.
Rebecca stands up from her chair and leaves Rich’s office.
Rich looks at the fax that Rebecca just gave him.
“Another fucking group is coming here?” says Rich as he reads the fax from General Godfrey.
Rich opens the WEAPONIZE folder and looks at the paperwork in it. He reads through the three-phase outline and sees something interesting written on several of the pages.
“Dead or alive?” asks Rich as he reads through the paperwork.
Rich flips through more and more pages and sees the words dead or alive subjects written on almost every page.
Rich runs out of his office and into the medical building.
“Where is Commander Pine?” asks Rich to a nurse who is walking towards the medical building exit.
The nurse doesn’t know where Commander Pine is.
Rich walks down a long hallway of the medical building.
Rich is looking for Commander Pine but can’t find her.
Rich enters the classroom where Dr. Yen had his equations, diagrams, and formulas written on several chalkboards.
The formulas, diagrams, and equations are still on the chalkboards, but there is more writing now.
Rich reads the chalkboards and can’t make sense of the equations, but he is looking for a pattern in the equations and writing.
Rich looks over the equations, formulas, and diagrams that are on the chalkboards.
“D/A, D/A, Dead or Alive,” says Rich as he sees the D/A written in several spots on the chalkboards.
Rich hears a person scream from an operating room.
AHHHH!
Rich exits the classroom and runs towards the screams.
Rich hears another scream come from operating room one.
AHHHHH!
Rich runs into the operating room.
The medical team turns towards Rich as he stands and stares at the subject being operated on in the room.
“Get him the hell out of here!” shouts a medical assistant.
A medical assistant comes towards Rich.
Rich grabs his handgun and points it at the medical assistant that is walking towards him.
The medical assistant stops walking and puts his hands up above his head.
“Okay! Let’s calm down here!” shouts Dr. Yen.
Rich looks at the body lying on the operating table, and he’s stunned at what he sees.
“You are operating on the living?” asks Rich.
Dr. Yen looks down at the middle aged white female that is alive on the operating table.
Rich steps closer to the female patient and sees that the woman is not a zombie, but a living breathing person.
“Is she bit?” asks Rich.
Dr. Yen looks at Rich and says, “You don’t have to be bit to turn. We have seen people turn even when they aren’t bit or scratched by a zombie, but not everyone turns when they die.”
“Rich, can I talk with you out here?” asks Commander Pine as she stands in the doorway of the operating room looking at Rich.
Rich turns towards Commander Pine with his handgun pointing at her.
Commander Pine notices Rich’s handgun and clears her throat at Rich.
Rich realizes that he has his handgun pointed at Commander Pine and quickly holsters his handgun.
Rich exits the operating room and walks into the hallway.
Commander Pine escorts Rich into the classroom.
“Please sit down,” says Commander Pine.
Rich doesn’t sit and isn’t sure what to say.
“I know this is a lot to take in, Rich. We are working on a couple different projects now. We have to start finding out more about the virus and how it affects humans. Like, why are people only infected and not animals?” says Commander Pine.
“Why are you operating on the living?” asks Rich.
“We just started that, we are getting brain tissue samples, blood, and other samples for genetic and tissue testing. We are trying to figure out why some people are turning even when they aren’t bit, and why some people can die and never turn into a zombie,” says Commander Pine.
“Some people don’t turn?” asks Rich.
“Yes, if you get bit, you will turn. If you die without being bit or scratched, you have a fifty-fifty chance of turning,” says Commander Pine.
“I can’t get on board of you killing innocent people. People that are living and have a chance to survive,” says Rich.
“Phase one is tough, and with our new orders we are trying to win the war against the dead. I don’t like killing random people. We check everyone out with testing and see if they are in good shape or not. We take some blood and run some basic tests. We aren’t just killing everyone that is brought to us,” says Commander Pine.
“Meyers and Hoffmann bring you the people for your experiments?” asks Rich.
“Yes, they bring us the subjects and patients they find in the streets,” says Commander Pine.
Commander Pine steps closer to Rich.
Rich steps backwards as he is still on edge.
Commander Pine steps closer to Rich and in a gentle tone of voice says, “I’m not some cold-hearted bitch,
Rich. I had a family before all this. I lost them to the dead. We are trying to end this war against the dead, control them, and figure out how to stop our future generations from becoming infected.”
“You said, you weren’t working on a cure. When I talked with you and Dr. Yen before, you said you weren’t working on a cure,” says Rich.
Commander Pine looks at Rich and says, “We got new orders. Didn’t you get the fax about a new group coming here?”
“I got the fax, what does that matter? Who is coming here?” asks Rich.
“We had some loses to our research and development as well as our scientists in D.C., Texas, Georgia, and California,” says Commander Pine.
“They are coming here?” asks Rich.
“Yes, whoever was able to get out of their labs is coming here. I know a large group is still in Mexico and Puerto Rico,” says Commander Pine.
Rich says, “I need to clear my head and get some fresh air.”
Rich exits the classroom and exits the medical building.
Ramano sees Rich pacing back and forth in front of the medical building.
“You okay, Rich?” asks Ramano as he walks over to Rich.
“Yeah, I’m okay. How are you?” asks Rich to Ramano.
“I could be better, but I’m alive and that’s all that matters right now,” answers Ramano.
“Do you know where Major Hoffmann is?” asks Rich.
“I think he is in hanger two,” says Ramano.
“Thanks,” says Rich as he walks away from Ramano.
Rich walks over to hanger two and sees four men working on a military vehicle.
“Hey Rich!” shouts Major Hoffmann as he sees Rich walking over to him.
Rich asks, “Can I talk with you privately Major?”
“Sure,” replies Major Hoffmann.
Major Hoffmann and Rich walk away from the hanger.
“What’s up Rich?” asks Major Hoffmann.
“What type of subjects did Commander Pine tell you to get?” asks Rich.
“Subjects?” asks Major Hofmann.
“For her experiments, living or dead, or both?” asks Rich.
“Both. She and the doctor wanted a mix of both,” answers Major Hoffmann.
Rich screams in frustration.
Major Hoffmann looks at Rich with a confused face.
“What’s the problem Rich?” asks Major Hoffmann.
Rich replies, “We are killing the living, Major. You don’t see a problem with that?”
“I choose who we bring back. I know myself and my team bring people back here for medical care. I bring back the dead ones as well, but I choose the right candidates to bring back,” says Major Hoffmann.
“What about Colonel Meyers?” asks Rich.
Major Hoffmann replies, “He’s a wild card. He brings back everyone he sees. He doesn’t care if you are healthy, sick, dead, alive, or whatever.”
“See, that’s my point. I just want to make sure the people that are being brought here are the right people, not people that have a chance to survive or have families,” says Rich.
“I see your point. I agree. There are a lot of people I don’t bring back. I’m not kidnapping people,” says Major Hoffmann.
“I knew I could trust you. I’m glad to hear what you just said,” says Rich.
Major Hoffmann replies, “My team and I aren’t psychos who get off on taking people. We are trying to save the world and keep people alive.”
Rich looks around and sees Colonel Meyers talking with Lieutenant General Swartz.
“I wish we all felt the same way you and I do,” says Rich to himself.
Major Hoffmann sees Rich looking at Colonel Meyers and Lieutenant General Swartz.
“Where did you patrol today, and where did Colonel Meyers patrol?” asks Rich.
“I have been in St. Pete mostly, and Colonel Meyers has been in Tampa,” answers Major Hoffmann.
“Okay, good to know. You guys sticking to those areas?” asks Rich.
“I believe so, I’m trying to clear out St. Pete more and more as my family lives there,” replies Major Hoffmann.
“I remember you saying that, any luck on finding them?” asks Rich.
Major Hoffmann replies, “Not yet, but I will be checking out a couple more spots soon. I heard there is a mega church still having services near the beach. I’m thinking about stopping by there to see if any members of my family are there.”
“Good idea,” says Rich.
Rich shakes Major Hoffmann’s hand and thanks him for the information.
Major Hoffmann goes back to working on the military vehicle he was working on before Rich asked to speak with him.
Rich walks back towards the medical building.
Colonel Meyers and Lieutenant General Swartz walk over to Rich.
“Captain Bailey? Do you have a second?” asks Lieutenant General Swartz.
Rich stops walking and looks back at Colonel Meyers and Lieutenant General Swartz.
“Yes, sir.” says Rich.
Lieutenant General Swartz asks, “Can we have a word with you privately?”
“Sure, where do you want to go?” asks Rich.
Colonel Meyers says, “Follow us.”
Lieutenant General Swartz and Colonel Meyers escort Rich into a private room.
Rich, Lieutenant General Swartz, and Colonel Meyers are in a private room that has no windows and one chair in it.
“Please sit-down captain,” says Colonel Meyers.
Rich walks over to the chair but doesn’t sit.
Lieutenant General Swartz and Colonel Meyers are standing together on one side of the room and Rich is standing next to the chair on the other side of the room.
“Is there a problem?” asks Rich.
“You tell us. Is there a problem?” asks Lieutenant General Swartz.
“Everything is okay, why do you ask?” asks Rich.
Rich senses the tension in the room and casually turns away from the chair and unlatches the safety latch on his gun holster.
“Just making sure we are all on the same page captain. I just want to make sure that we are all working together on project Weaponize,” says Lieutenant General Swartz.
Rich feels that he is trying to be interrogated and strong armed.
“I had some questions for Commander Pine and Major Hoffmann. We worked them out and everything is good now,” says Rich.
“Good, how about us? Do you have any questions for us?” asks Lieutenant General Swartz.
“Nope, I know what’s going on now,” says Rich.
Colonel Meyers steps closer to Rich.
Lieutenant General Swartz says, “Going forward, if you have any questions about project Weaponize or anything else, you come to me or Colonel Meyers.”
Colonel Meyers gives Rich a glaring stare.
“We can help you better than Commander Pine and Major Hoffmann can,” says Lieutenant General Swartz.
Rich is about to respond but is interrupted by Lieutenant General Swartz.
“We don’t want anything to happen to you Captain Bailey, or your son,” says Lieutenant General Swartz.
Rich stares at Lieutenant General Swartz and isn’t sure what to say.
Lieutenant General Swartz says, “You play nice, and we play nice. We can do this the hard way, or the easy way. You decide.”
Rich says, “I’m here to help you and your group. This act of intimidation or whatever you are calling it is unnecessary. Don’t threaten me or my family.”
Lieutenant General Swartz steps closer to Rich and Colonel Meyers steps behind Lieutenant General Swartz.
“We will threaten you, your family, and whoever else we see fit, Captain Bailey. We have control of this base now. Project Weaponize is moving forward. Stay out of our way and do as we say, or you will be removed,” says Lieutenant General Swartz.
Rich doesn’t like the tone of voice or the message being delivered from Lieutenant General Swartz and Colonel Meyers.
“I und
erstand what you are doing here, but it’s not necessary. I’m on your team,” says Rich.
“Good, but only time will tell where you stand. We are only on phase one right now,” says Lieutenant General Swartz.
CHAPTER 14
TRYING TO PROVE
“My dad never lets me do anything,” says Jeremy to Tran as Jeremy watches Tran work on a car.
“Can you hand me that screwdriver?” asks Tran.
Jeremy hands Tran the screwdriver that is sitting on the work bench.
“I’m never going to get any practice with anything, I need real world experience,” says Jeremy to Tran.
Tran hands Jeremy back the screwdriver.
“I’m ready. I’m ready to go on runs and get out of this place. I’m not a little kid anymore,” says Jeremy.
Tran shuts the hood of the car he was working on.
“You may think you are ready, but your dad is our leader and you have to obey him. Your dad is very smart, and he sees you as the future Jeremy,” says Tran.
“I know, and I understand that, but I’m just bored to death and I see how people look at me. People won’t take me seriously as a leader, if I’m stuck inside where it’s safe and never get my hands dirty,” says Jeremy.
“You are right. When your dad gets back from Clearwater, I will talk with him and Bruce about you going out more,” says Tran.
Jeremy smiles and says, “Thanks Tran. My father does listen to you.”
“We will see, but I’ll give it a shot,” says Tran.
Jeremy continues to help Tran fix a car in one of the garages at The Haven.
CRASH!
A loud noise is heard at the front entrance of The Haven.
BANG!
BANG!
BOOM!
Gunfire goes off.
Jeremy runs to the main entrance of The Haven.
“What happened?” shouts Jeremy to a Warrior guard.
“A car drove into one of the concrete barriers at the front entrance,” says the guard to Jeremy.
Smoke clears from around the car that crashed into the concrete barrier.
A red sports car with several bullet holes and some front-end damage is seen.
The driver side car door opens, and a teenage male falls out of the driver seat onto the street.
“Put your hands up!” shouts a Warrior guard from inside the fence of The Haven.
Fight 4 Us (Book 7): Weaponize Page 14