Zombie Theorem: The End Game (13 page)

Brian swerved around debris and a couple of smoking craters, but got us there safely. I saw Kuppers and the SWAT team minus Apache standing out front directing the bug out. We pulled up next to them and they came up to my window, instead of having me get out. Doc spoke first, “Good to see you guys are ok. I just heard from Julie, she says everyone is fine and they have all the backups and are preparing to board a transport to Travis. She said she would hold the plane for you.”

“Negative. Get a hold of her and tell her to go. I’ll see her in Travis later. I need her and Amanda to get things up and running when she gets there.”

Doc smoothed down his bushy mustache and relayed my message over the radio. I heard a female voice fighting back over the radio. Instead of answering her he handed me his radio. “Julie, get out of here. I don’t know how long the base will be safe. I need you to take control and get things up and running in Travis. I will get out with Delta, Kuppers, and the team. Now please don’t argue. Go!”

“Fine!” she yelled back. I knew she was gonna kick my ass when she saw me next. “I love you, you big pain in the ass!”

“That’s Major pain in the ass. I love you too babes. Now go!” I radioed back. Doc took his radio and then patted my head.

With that I heard engines and looked out of the Humvee’s window as a C-130 lifted off the airfield and into the air. It was joined by two fighters and turned to the south and soon, was gone from sight. I watched the sky a little longer as more C-130s took to it, met up with their escorts, and left the area. Kuppers leaned into my window. “So, the bug out is going well, but we are going to be a couple of planes short. Up to you. If you want to go on a plane, get moving now.”

“I’ll leave with you guys. Give my seat to someone who needs it.” Kuppers nodded his head and spoke into his radio.

“Brian, can you get someone to get my gear and weapon? I have a feeling we are going to be in a running fight at some point. And I know I can at least pull a trigger.”

“No problem, Boss.” He jumped on the radio and then turned to me when he got a quick answer. “Boss, get this, your old man delivered all your gear here already, and jumped on the plane with Julie to protect her for you.”

“That sounds like Dad. Glad he got out okay.” I turned my head to hide the tear I quickly wiped off my cheek. In all the chaos, I had forgot about my Dad. What kind of person did that make me? I was making mistakes, ones that I couldn’t afford to make.

Brian caught my shame and patted my knee. “It’s okay Boss, we have all been busy with this fucking day. Your old man knew you were busy and took care of himself and made sure to take care of what was important to you. You are a lucky man. Your gear is being brought over along with our Zomgo bags. I kept them packed and ready at all times.”

I sat back in my seat in exhaustion and pain, closed my eyes and shook my head, in an attempt to clear it. Something slid into my right shoulder and hurt like a son of a bitch. I opened my eyes and looked over to the offender. Cupcake stood there, smiling at me. “Hey, Dan, I hope you like my cocktail. Should take the pain away and maybe if you are lucky, give you a little bit of extra energy.” He wriggled his eyebrows at me and capped the needle on the syringe he’d pulled out of my arm.

“Anybody ever tell you to ask first, before injecting people with your special cocktails?” I asked almost immediately feeling a little better.

“Why ask? Nobody trusts me, yet I know better. Apache is not the only one who’s had medical training. Of course, mine was in the Polish army, but we know more then you crazy westerners. We strong like bulls for a reason!” He roared with laughter.

“You like to slip in and out of your Polish accent don’t you? Fucking crazy Pol! But thank you Cupcake.” I punched him in his arm weakly.

“Keeps people on their toes.” he said in even more of his Polish accent, throwing in a little Russian just to be an ass. “Oh look, someone is bringing you your toys. Can you get out on your own, or do you need help?” he said in his near perfect American accent.

I shrugged my shoulders and opened the door easily. Next, I grabbed onto the frame and commanded my legs to move on their own. They obeyed, mostly. One at a time, I was able to move them outside and onto the firm tarmac. Cupcake reached down and grabbed my right bicep and helped me the rest of the way out of the Humvee. Once he was sure I had my balance, he let go of me but stayed close, in case I needed him. “See my medicine has helped you already. I will make a Pol out of you yet.” He smiled and lit up a cigarette.

I took it from him and took a big drag on it and gave it back. The sweet smoke helped me organize my thoughts. A pretty female soldier ran up and placed the two massive Zomgo packs on the ground, and then snapped to attention and saluted me. I gave her a halfhearted salute back and took my MP5 and Benelli then took the time to thank her warmly. She smiled and actually giggled, showing that she was probably a young lady of nineteen if I had to guess. She saluted again, turned, and ran over to an older man who was yelling at soldiers and at an amassing convoy of Humvees, massive canvas sided trucks and even a pair of armored APCs or armored personal carriers for you that don’t speak military lingo. Of course I learned this from Brian later, so don’t feel bad. Kuppers kept looking up toward the sky and shaking his head. Cupcake helped me snap on my armor and attach my MP5 to my gear then slid the Benelli shotgun over my head. Brian grabbed our Zomgo packs and threw them in the back of our Humvee, then ran to have a word with Doc.

“Cupcake, think you can arrange for us to top off on fuel? Maybe a couple of extra tanks just in case?” I’d gotten his attention by taking his newly lit cigarette.

“Of course. Let me also see if I can get you some other little toys. You gonna be ok right here?” I gave him a ‘what the fuck do you think’ look and he laughed and walked away.

I caught Kuppers’ eye and waved him over. Vic followed behind him, looking grim. “What’s the freshest news, gentlemen? Vic, did Sharla get out of here?”

“Thanks for asking, Dan, I pushed her on with Julie. Julie said she’d put her to work, and keep her safe. I saw your Dad all kitted up and acting as their personal security. So, I think they will be ok.” Vic shook my hand lightly.

Kuppers looked me over. “Looks like a light breeze could knock you over. Thinking you should’ve left on that last plane?”

“I stand by my team I’ll be ok. What is our plan?”

Kuppers turned to the west when he heard screaming jet engines. “Get down, Dan!” He then turned to the rest of the convoy and yelled, “Incoming!”

Every-one dropped to the ground. I grabbed the Humvee door and lowered myself to the ground, just as four jets screamed overhead. Then, I felt the ground shake and heard the explosions. I looked toward the runway and saw it destroyed. Three of our cover jets screamed by chasing the attacking jets. Streaks of light and smoke left their wing tips and then explosions could be seen on the horizon as they took out three of the attack planes. I could feel the explosions from the ground and knocking me in my chest, chasing the air from my lungs. Took me a couple of precious scary seconds before, I could pull in a lungful of welcoming oxygen.

Kuppers stood along with Vic and helped me to my feet. “That will wake you up quick,” Vic commented.

“We better get this show on the road. They are softening us for a ground attack, I am positive.” Kuppers commented. He twirled his finger in the air and men and women rushed to climb into their vehicles. Cupcake ran up then and added four large cans into the hatch of our Humvee, then climbed inside the rear seat, along with Doc who appeared as if by magic. Brian, climbed in behind the wheel and I eased myself in with Vic’s help. “We will be in the lead APC, follow behind, standard spacing. We head south and at some point, we will turn west.” Kuppers ran with Vic again in tow.

Brian pulled in behind the lead APC as it led the way. “Wait where is Joey?” I shouted out, just remembering the prisoner.

“He is in the truck behind us. What’s, up Boss?” Brian answered back.

“I had just asked him the most important question when we were attacked, and had not gotten an answer,” I explained.

Brian looked at me sideways and nodded his understanding. “Once we get clear, Boss, we’ll set up time for you to finish the questioning. How’s that sound?”

I gave him a thumbs up, laid my head against the back of my seat and closed my eyes. In seconds I was asleep. I woke up back on the boat, looking over the water. This time, I was not wearing shorts or a Hawaiian shirt. Instead, I was still dressed in my BDUs and armor, but without my weapon. I didn’t think I would need that here. “I have to say, it sure is nice to see you Dan.”

I looked over to the beautiful blonde sitting next to me and gave her my best smile. “Hello, Angel. Good to see you again. I know I am not dead, I am asleep. So what’s going on?”

She’d smiled at me when I’d called her Angel. “No, you are not dead Dan. You are asleep in the Humvee. I brought you here to give you the best rest you could get. Things are about to get worse for you, and you are going to need the rest.”

I sat up a little straighter. “How much worse?”

“I can’t say. The future is very hard to understand, and doesn’t always turn out the way we see it. Right now, you and your friends are ok.” She looked toward the beaches on the nearby islands.” Her smile slightly fell from her face, but then came right back immediately.

“So, what am I going to be doing when I wake up?” I asked.

“What you do best, Dan. Sit down and talk to your prisoner is the best advice I can give you,” she said, then reached out and touched my face.

“I really do miss you, Angel. I am so sorry that I couldn’t have saved you.” I said, looking into her eyes.

Just like that, she was back to being my little Angel. She climbed into my lap and kissed my cheeks. I kissed her forehead and she sat in my lap. As we sat there, bobbing on the ocean swells and enjoying the warmth from the sun with the cool breeze blowing across our faces. I then woke up in the Humvee, amazed that it was dark outside now. I could see the lead APC in front of us and watched as Kuppers and Vic climbed down out of their seats. I stretched in my chair and prepared myself for the pain, I was amazed when instead of pure pain it was a slight stiffness with an edge of pain. She’d done it to me again, took away my pain, just like in the C-130 and numerous other times I’d needed her.

I opened my door, adjusted my MP5, and pulled myself out. I met them at the hood and Kuppers nodded to me.

“You look like you feel better, Dan.” Vic offered.

“I feel a bunch better now.”

Kuppers patted my back and then spread out a map on the hood turning his back to me. I had to go on my tippy toes to look over his shoulder at the map. I tried working out where we were by looking over our improvised rest area and back at the map. Even I amazed myself with analytical ability. I stuck my finger out and onto the map. “We should be right there, am I right?”

Kuppers turned his head and looked over at me. “How the fuck would you know? You’ve been asleep since we left the base like six hours ago.”

“Because I have two eyes and innate ability to figure shit out. So, what is the plan? Do we still have air cover?” I studied the map as I asked my questions.

He gave me a wry smile and shook his head. “I should wrap you in a blanket and beat the crap out of you, then see how well you can figure shit out.” He took his canteen out slowly and deliberately, screwed off the lid and took a swig. Once done, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and put the canteen back in its place on his tactical vest. “We stopped to figure that exact thing out Dan.”

I shook my head over his childish act. “You know, for being a bad ass take no names big hairy ball commander, you can be incredibly childlike. Now, where is our ultimate destination? And what about that air cover?”

He called me an asshole under his breath and then laughed at me. “Alright, Dan. We have no air cover, everything that has tried to come out here is being forced back out by the Ridder guys. Plus, we are trying to stay hidden and not give away our position. For the big question, I have no idea where we should go right now. I am happy to let you do your thing, for some reason you are good at figuring this shit out. We are protected here for the night. We will break out food and do some quick maintenance on the vehicles in the convoy.” He turned to Vic and started rattling off orders, his main one was no fire, and tactical red lights only.

I felt the presence of my Sasquatch appear by my side. “Took you long enough. We need to figure this shit out on where to go and how to get there. Can you figure out our supply situation? I’ll stare at the map for a bit and work this stuff out.”

He chuckled. “Got you sir. Beans, bullets, and blankets. Probably fuel and who and what specialties we have in the troops. Be right back, Boss.” He handed me a red-lensed flashlight, a pen, and a new notebook. I hadn’t noticed that I’d lost mine.

I thanked him and pointed away. I stared at the map for a while and started working out distances and directions. Also, I tried to remember the data on troop movements of Ridder and the large zombie hordes that Amanda had briefed me on earlier. Had that been a day or two days ago? I shook the thought away. I then noticed a symbol on the map that I was not familiar with, and looked around for a key. Not finding one, I wrote down some questions on my notebook and circled the symbol on the map. I reached up to click open my radio, only to find it missing. Sometimes, I can be so absentminded. I looked around and saw a trio of soldiers working on the engine of their Humvee.