Zombie Theorem: The End Game (8 page)

“You’re just jealous cause your man needs me.” Brian said in an amazing like womanly voice.

“Ok, please don’t ever do that again. Marines should not ever be able to make that voice, mostly ones who look like runt Sasquatches.” I intoned.

Julie and Brian laughed and just like that, my shame and depression retreated to the back of my mind. We joked on the way to the cafeteria and met up with most of the team at the entrance. They saluted me as we came up. I saluted back and shooed them into the building. Amanda held the door for us and pointed to the briefcase she carried, mouthing ‘I’ve got news’. I nodded and gave her a thumbs up.

We sat around eating as a family, cracking jokes, telling stories, and discussing the newest rumors and gossip from around the base. At one point, Julie brought me a fresh cup of coffee and I took the file folder that Amanda had placed on the table in front of me.

I sat there drinking my coffee, and went through the newest data and reports from what I’d ordered Amanda to do when I’d left the base for the ill-fated trip to meet with the General. The horde was growing outside our base, and they were coming from mostly the west, out of the state of Washington. According the report Amanda had written, she believed they would be here in three days. I looked over the pictures she’d included, and by the damage being left behind the horde traced them back to the Seattle area. So, it looks like Ridder knows where we are and are making their move.

When I was done, I put the file back on the table only to find another one in its place. I drained my coffee and put the cup back on the table. I opened the next file and read the top sheet. It explained that the report and pictures found within, were of Seattle and the surrounding cities. It also said the data was less than five hours old. I hesitated for a moment before flipping the cover sheet over and dealing with the contents. I looked up and met Amanda’s eyes. She made contact with mine and nodded her head. I swung my view on to the table and found that my coffee had been refilled. I looked around and saw Brian saluting me with his cup of coffee. I picked mine up and saluted back, making sure to raise my middle finger to let him know he was number one in my book.

I took a sip, sighed, and got to work examining the photos and report. The first picture was from a southern view of the sound. The aircraft carrier was gone but had been replaced with twelve very large containerships, surrounded by what looked like missile cruisers. The city looked normal, except the docks looked like they were a lesson in sloppy logistics. Freight containers sat everywhere. The next couple of pics showed the SeaTac airport. The airfield was covered in airliners of every make and ownership. Another photo paper clipped to it, showed the nearby Boeing airfield. The runway was clear, but every space of tarmac was filled with airliners also. I looked around and Amanda handed me a grease pencil. That girl could read my mind. I wrote on all the photos, “Chaos can work in our favor.”

Then, I read the reports she had included. A lot of it was data that meant nothing to me, it was the technical details of how she’d used the satellites, maneuvering them into position. The last sheet had data I could use, after passing through with the first satellite, she’d then tasked her other one to fly over, three hours later. She’d detailed the differences in the photos and data. It seemed the containerships were making deliveries, not pick-ups. I took out my pen and wrote on the edges. What is in the containers? She’d also noted that it looked like the most radio traffic and human traffic was coming out of Joint Base Fort Lewis-McChord. The airfields there were a little less chaotic, but not much. The aircraft she could identify were mostly transports, a mix of C-130s and C-5s. I was amazed to find no mention of fighters.

I never took my eyes off the report, but inquired to Amanda, “Amanda, at that joint base Lewis–McChord you couldn’t identify any fighter aircraft or there were none?”

“I had the air boss here on the base look over the photos and data, and he said there were no fighters on that base. He did say, the base was mostly a transport base, unlike what we are set up here for.”

I wrote down what she’d said. “What is his name?”

“Captain Mike Williams, call sign ‘Paco.’ His office is in the same building as ours.”

“Excellent, set up a meeting today with him, Kuppers, Brian, Hase, and Apache, and I want you in there.” I closed her file and put it on the table. “Good job, by the way. I never expected you could get me that much info.”

“Sir, yes, sir. Do you have a preference in time for the meeting? And thank you, sir, for the compliment.” I looked over at her and witnessed her blushing from the praise.

I winked at her and tipped my cup back, draining the last of the coffee. “Eight pm, and make sure to order food from the cafeteria and have it delivered.” I unlocked my chair’s wheels and pushed back from the table. “Alright team, let’s get to the office. We have a lot of preparation to do before our meeting tonight.”

As one, they turned and asked, “What meeting?”

I smiled back. “You guys need to learn to read my mind like Amanda here.” Gunny Sergeant Neal Mauseth gave me an irritated look and sighed out loud. Brian’s eyes flashed in anger and he almost jumped from his seat. “Brian, relax, there is no reason to rip his head off just yet. Let’s give him a chance to speak” I motioned for the Gunny to speak.

He stood slowly and leaned on one of his crutches. “I apologize if I upset the Major or the First Sergeant. I find your lack of military bearing unprofessional, sir. The people around this table worked hard to attain their level of rank. I feel that when you speak to them in the manner that you do, you disrespect that. You fraternize with us enlisted, you never use proper chain of command and again, your refusal to use rank when speaking to someone.”

I tipped my head in his direction and considered his point. “As you pointed out Gunny, I did not come up in the service like all of you did. I was handed my position. But mister I’ve been through a harder time in my short career in this mess, than you have your entire life. I’ve been kidnapped by the enemy, I’ve been tortured, I’ve been shot in the chest and abdomen, I’ve lost a little girl who depended on me, and I’ve been trapped in a tower in San Francisco, fighting the God Damn dead since the very beginning.” Somehow the anger in me blossomed, and I found myself on my feet, holding onto the edge of the table. “I do not deal with ranks and titles cause to me, we are a family. We work together every day to help the people of this base and the country as a whole. I do not have time to worry about your feelings toward me or my way of leading. You came and asked to work for me, I didn’t come and ask you. You can leave any time you feel like it.” Julie appeared behind me and took my arm helping me down into the chair. The pain finally made an appearance and made sure to tamper my anger.

The Gunny stood there for a full minute, his face neutral, showing no emotion. Then, like he’d shrugged off a chip off his shoulder, he frowned. “Major, I apologize for my actions and words. If you would like to reassign me or confine me to my quarters, I would understand. I spoke without understanding the situation.” He then snapped to attention and stood there as if made of granite.

“Brian?” I asked, never taking my eyes off the Gunny.

“Sir?”

“Is the Gunny a dedicated man to his work?”

“Sir, utmost. I never worry about giving him a task and finding it undone or done in a poor way. He’s a valuable commodity to our team.”

“I will leave his future to you and your best judgement. But I do not want anyone to discipline him or treat him in an ill way for his actions today.” I turned my attention to Amanda and Julie. “Would you ladies please escort me to the office?”

Julie took the chair handles and with Amanda in tow, we left the cafeteria. We made it to the office and entered, then made our way to our stations. Once there, I took control of the wheel chair and pulled myself up to my desk. I looked over the room and came eye to eye with Kuppers. He frowned at first then nodded. I had thought he was about to come up here and rip me to pieces for coming to work while still injured. But he knew I had work to do.

I threw myself into the reports fighting for my attention and drew up an action plan for the team and what I needed from them. I felt a presence to my right and heard Julie cough, to get my attention. I tilted my head up and the Gunny came into view. I put my papers down, unlocked the chair’s wheels, and pushed back from my desk. “Gunny, what can I do for you?”

“Please call me Neal. I’ve been a Marine for my entire life, my father was a Marine, his daddy was one too. I understand that life has changed, I am just having a problem adjusting. Which is bad for a Marine. We are taught to adapt and overcome any situation. But they never told us that things could change this much and…” He trailed off.

I reached out my hand to him. He stuck his out and took it. I shook it warmly and patted it with my other hand. “Neal, you are forgiven buddy. I need you to buy in to what I am doing and get your ass to work.” He gave a genuine smile and nodded his head ok. I turned and grabbed a sheet of paper off my desk. “I need you to take care of these items for me. I hate to do it, but I need all of that done by sixteen hundred.”

“You knew I would be back?”

“Yes Neal. Now you are wasting my time, so get your ass to work, Gunny!”

“Oorah!” He took his orders and moved quickly to get them done.

“Yeah, I figured you would do that. Never seen you dress someone down though. That was interesting” Julie said behind me. I turned and stole a quick kiss from her.

“You know me; I give everyone a second chance. Heck I gave you a second chance.” I moved the chair backwards as fast as my hands could. Her hand occupied the space I’d just vacated. I stuck my tongue out at her and she turned bright red.

“I know where you sleep lover boy.” She then turned in her seat and went back to work.

A shadow appeared over me and I knew there was only one man who could cast a shadow like that. “Yes Brian?”

“Julie, if you’d like, I can scoop him out of that chair and deposit him on the floor.” His gravelly voice said.

“No thank you, Brian. I will pay him back later. We have important work to get to.” She gave him a smile, and then stuck her tongue out at me and blew a raspberry.

“Real professional Julie.” I wheeled myself back to my desk and got back to work. Brian continued to stand there. I turned and looked back at him. “Something else I can do for you?”

He sighed and folded his massive tree trunk arms. “You said you wanted to interview the Librarian before Vic did. I had him moved to a private room for us. A guard owed me.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go. Gee, you really are a slacker.” I wheeled my chair out of the main room and down the hallway by the time Brian caught up with me.

“You know; you really are an asshole” he said taking control of my chair.

“That’s the reason you love me so much” I shot back

“Someday I think I am going to push you off a cliff” he muttered.

We continued our banter as he pushed me through the base toward a nondescript concrete building. As we entered we were confronted by a guard standing near the door. “Identification and reason for being here, gentlemen?” Once he saw my rank, he snapped to attention and stammered out “Sorry Major, I did not see your rank, sir.”

“It’s ok.”

“Senior Airman.” Brian whispered.

“Senior Airman Jenkins.”

“Thank you, sir. May I please ask the Major where his authorization is?” Jenkins was not gonna get caught not doing his job.

Another voice spoke up then, with much more authority. “I am their authorization Airman Jenkins.”

Jenkins stayed in attention. “Yes Master Sergeant. Thank you.” He turned to us. “Sorry for delaying you Major.” He saluted and stood rigid.

I saluted back. “Just doing your job I understand Airman.”

Brian pushed me to the Master Sergeant, standing in front of an opened steel door. The man was not a very big man, his voice did not fit his figure. He stood around six foot but was skinnier then most men his size. He wore thick black plastic frames and had a nose like a beak.

After we made entrance to the rear, he closed and locked the door and dropped his command demeanor. “Sorry, gentlemen, Airman Jenkins just came on duty and I had not had time to let him know you were coming. I moved the prisoner to an interview room.” He stopped at a door, unlocked it, and opened the door wide for us.

Brian pushed me in and parked me at the opposite side of the table from the Librarian. He looked smaller, more frail than the last time that I’d had the honor of meeting him. Brian thanked the Master Sergeant, had a couple of quiet words and closed the door. Brian then removed his blouse, getting down to an undershirt, which strained to hold in his massive muscular frame. He hung the blouse on the handles of my chair and made his way over to stand behind the Librarian.

“You will not need to torture me. Anything you want to know, I will be happy to tell you.” The Librarian spoke in a practiced air of authority.

I nodded slightly to Brian and he grabbed the man by his throat and with an effortless tug, lifted him from his seat. He slammed his body against the wall making sure the man’s head was the last to hit. “I told you, you don’t have to hurt me I will tell you anything.” This time his voice showed fear and surprise. I nodded at Brian and he slammed the man back into his chair, grabbed his left hand and slammed it down onto the table. The Librarian tried to pull it away, but Brian held it in a vice grip.

I watched the fear in the man’s eyes. I stared at him flatly, giving him nothing. No emotion, no answer, nothing. I then flicked my eyes to Brian and nodded again. Brian reached down and snapped the man’s pointer finger back. The crack sounded like a dry twig, being broken to be used as kindling. The Librarian’s eyes just about shot out of his head as he screamed aloud in pain. His scream finally died down to a whimper after a minute.

He sniveled, then started his begging. “Please don’t hurt me anymore. You have not even asked me a question. You do not need to hurt me.” He started blubbering, tears and snot running down his face. I let it continue for a moment. My hand came across the table and slapped the man’s face so hard it wracked his head sideways. He stopped blubbering and just sat in his chair, crying softly.

I gave him a minute then spoke for the first time. “How many people did you hurt when they said the same thing? Did you enjoy the torture and pain that you brought to people? Did you enjoy ruining their lives and the lives of the people who loved them?” I spoke softly, not raising my voice, or showing any emotion.

“I only did my job” he sniveled.

I reached out again and slapped his face harder this time. “I thought you said I did not have to hurt you to get answers.”

He started breathing harder and his eyes started darting around the room. I again gave him nothing. I nodded and this time, Brian broke another two fingers on the man’s hand. The Librarian again screamed out in pain and then settled into sobbing. I watched him as he went through his lies and options. I sighed and looked at Brian. “Break his wrist, he won’t need that hand for anything important.”

The Librarian’s eyes went wide. “No, please don’t. Yes, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the pain that I inflicted on people. They never left me, in the same condition as when they were delivered. I would wring all the information they had, and then I would hurt them more. I reveled in their screams and begging.” Spittle flew from his mouth as he spoke, the craziness emanated from his eyes. Then just like that he became quiet and dropped his head to the table. He sobbed quietly, tears wetting the table, and his shoulders hitched.

“How long have you been working with the Initiative?” I had taken my notebook out, and with a pencil in hand, I waited.

Brian let go of the man’s hand and stepped back giving the Librarian some room to breathe and feel less threatened.

He raised his head and wiped at his eyes and nose with his undamaged right hand. “I have been employed by H&M pharmaceuticals and Mr. Hedley for the last ten years. I only learned about the Initiative four years ago.” I didn’t have to ask any more questions as the Librarian was broken, and he continued with his story. “I learned my skills with the CIA when I was recruited out of Med school in 1988. They offered to pay off my student loans, and a ridiculous salary, that would not be matched by any hospital. I came to the attention of Mr. Hedley through a connection of his that worked for the CIA. I was promised anything I wanted, so they gave me a new identity. At first, I worked on getting information out of employees from competing companies. But later, I was tasked with helping the Initiative, by interrogating journalists and members who they believed worked for various Government agencies.”

He started crying again, tears fell like rain and landed on the table, forming little puddles of sadness. I wasn’t sure if it was sadness for what was about to happen to him, or sadness for what he had done. “Just one more question.” He raised his head and waited. “How many?”

He looked confused, as if not sure what I was really asking. Then it dawned on him that I was asking how many people had he tortured. “I have interrogated two hundred and twelve people. Twelve left me unharmed, fifty-three were left permanently damaged, one hundred and forty-six died, and one, you, got away.” He hung his head in shame.

I sat quietly after jotting down my notes, considering my next words and actions. “What is your real name?”

“No one has called me by that name in a long time. My name is Jon Tanner.” He whispered the name out.

“Jon, there is a gentleman coming to interview you. You will answer all of his questions truthfully. He does not know that I have been here, ahead of him. You will not use that as leverage against me, or him, or the big man behind you will come back. And he will not be so kind again.” I nodded at Brian and he retrieved his shirt and dressed.

He wheeled my chair to the door and we were stopped by Jon’s words. “I am sorry for what I did to you.”

“I’m not. You freed me from more than you will ever know. I hope that when you sleep, you see all those you hurt, and they will haunt you for everything you’ve done.” We left the room and the door locked behind us.

Master Sergeant met us at the main gate and turned us around. “We need to go out the back door. Reynolds just arrived to interview the prisoner.”

He opened a back door and we went down the loading dock ramp. “Master Sergeant, when the next prisoner arrives, let us know. We would like to meet with him also.” Brian called back to him. The Master Sergeant nodded affirmative and closed the door.

We made it back to the office by late afternoon and found the team still hard at work. Lunch had been demolished by them, wrappers and containers littered our small meeting table. I heard Brian’s stomach rumble and knew how he felt. Julie looked up from the files she had been reading and smiled at us. She leaned down under her desk and retrieved a box. She made a space at the table and placed it on top. Brian forgot about me as he started pulling items out of it. Julie patted his shoulder and said something in his ear.

She came over and sat on my lap, turned her head to me and batted her blue eyes. “Hey soldier, come here often?”

Even though it hurt, I wrapped my arms around her and laid a kiss dripping with love and heated with passion on her luscious red lips. She kissed me back with just as much passion and then pulled away biting my bottom lip. “Sorry, we aren’t supposed to show so much affection at the office, military decorum and all.”

She pulled out of my arms and gained her feet while smoothing out her uniform. She parked my chair at the table in front of a clean space that Brian had made for us. A turkey club on wheat with a side salad waited for my attention. I started devouring it not even knowing I was hungry till the smell of the food had woken up my appetite. Julie placed an old battered mug in front of me, filled with orange juice. Then a stack of files appeared, which I promptly ignored as I finished my lunch. Brian demolished three turkey clubs like mine and a bowl of chili. It was amazing how much fuel was needed to power his massive body. He caught me watching and threw a wink at me.

I downed my orange juice and picked up the stack of files, placing them on my lap. I opened the first and read through its contents. I had now gotten to a point where I could tell who in the team had written which files or parts of. I finished the last file and glanced at the big clock on the wall behind our work stations. It read seven thirty. Wow, this day was flying by. Julie came over and handed me a fresh cup of coffee and some more files. I placed them on my lap and she took control of the chair. Brian and the team followed as we made our way to the booked conference room. Kuppers and Vic were standing out front leaning against the wall.

“You gentlemen do know the meeting starts at eight? Right?” I said with a smile.

“Of course we do, though we need to talk to you and Brian privately before the meeting.” Kuppers said using his ‘I am trying to be nice and not shout at you right now’ voice.

I handed the files and coffee off to Julie. “Do you mind setting up the materials and data?”

“Of course not Major.” She leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Is this about why you and Brian were gone earlier?”

“Probably.” I said aloud.

She flashed a smile and disappeared into the room with the rest of the team. Kuppers walked over to a door opened it, and looked inside. “I need this room for a bit. Go get coffee or something.” When no one moved, he yelled, “Get out!” Three men and two woman came out quickly and stuttered their apologies, and marched down the hallway.

Kuppers pointed at the room and snapped. Brian pushed me in and moved to the far end of the room. Kuppers and Vic came in and shut the door behind them. I painfully crossed my legs and waited for the ass kicking to begin.

“You two want to explain to me why a sasquatch and a man in a wheel-chair were reportedly interrogating a suspect without permission or orders?” Kuppers asked.

“Does it matter?” I asked.

Wrong words. Kuppers went into mini meltdown and almost threw the nearest chair at me. Vic stepped up and placed a hand on Kuppers chest. “Ok calm down.” He turned to me. “Just tell us why you thought it was important to do what you did?”