The Zone: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (Infection Chronicles Book 1)

by Ellis, Tripp

  “I got rid of him. It’s just me and you.” Her eyes sparkled with a deliciously devious glint as she clinked glasses. “Cheers.”

  Cassy slugged the aged whiskey down without flinching. She held out her glass for another pour. Steele obliged. As he reached for the bottle of whiskey, Cassy eyed the prescription pills. “Neuromodix. Pretty heavy duty stuff.”

  “Not heavy-duty enough.”

  “You guys risk your lives. The least they could do is patch you up a little better.”

  “I thought we were all murderous war criminals?”

  “We all know the real criminals wear suits and ties.” Cassy lifted an eyebrow. Steele gave a small nod. It seemed they had something they could agree on after all.

  He filled their glasses again.

  “60,000 soldiers have defective bio-mechanic implants. Yet there is no funding for replacements. Genomedyne makes a great new composite and interface. Truly state of the art.” Cassy traced her finger down his titanium forearm.

  “Like you said, there’s no funding.”

  “Can you feel that?” She looked up at him with smoldering eyes.

  “What do you want?” he asked, seeing right through her.

  “What, can’t a single woman have a drink with an attractive man?”

  “Whatever you’re after, you’re not going to get it.”

  “But I always get what I want.” The words slipped off her tongue like satin. Silky, warm, and whet with desire. Cassy thrust her body closer.

  Steele’s pulse quickened. This was a woman that was hard to ignore.

  Cassy put her hand on his muscular chest and stroked her way down his torso. She could feel his rippled abs under his shirt. She teased her way down, plunging below his waistline. “Is this titanium too, or are you just happy to see me.”

  “I can assure you, that’s all natural.”

  Cassy lifted up on her tip toes. Her full lips moved towards his. Inches apart now. He could smell that damned strawberry shampoo again.

  “I’ll ask again. What do you want?”

  “Isn’t it obvious,” she whispered.

  He could feel her steamy breath on his neck. She was driving him insane. Steele had survived a lot of things during his time in the Army—POW camps, torture, proximity mines. But he knew blonds could be deadly.

  He took her by the arms and pushed her back. “Cut the shit.”

  “Don’t tell me there is a Mrs. Steele out there?”

  “She left a long time ago.”

  “Let me guess, your charming and warm personality was just too much for her?”

  “When our daughter died, she couldn’t be around me anymore. Said she thought of Madison every time she looked into my eyes.”

  Cassy stepped back, stunned. “I’m sorry.”

  Steele’s eyes drilled into her. “What do you really want?”

  Cassy dropped the seductress act. “I want you to get me into the containment zone.”

  “You’re barking up the wrong tree. I can’t authorize that.”

  “I’m not talking about an authorized visit. You and I both know that’s never going to happen.”

  “You want me to help you make the Army look bad?”

  “No, I want you to help me expose the truth. An objective look at what is really going on. The American people have a right to know.”

  “That virus gets out, and there will be no more American people.”

  “What if it was you stuck in there?” Cassy asked. “Or someone you loved? Would you just leave them in there to rot?”

  Major Steele sighed and pursed his lips. “Six weeks. Six weeks, and I retire. Then I won’t have to listen to anybody’s bullshit. I won’t have much, but it will be something. And I ain’t doing a damn thing to screw that up.”

  “Well, I guess in all your years of service, you’ve forgotten what’s worth fighting for.”

  Steele clenched his teeth, seething with anger. Cassy’s tongue could be as sharp as it was smooth. The air was thick between them.

  A private poked his head into the tent, breaking the tension. “Major. The colonel wants to see you. ASAP.”

  Cassy reached into her purse and pulled out her business card. But this was no ordinary card. It was a translucent piece of smart glass. The size of a credit card, but a little bit thicker. It displayed her picture, name, and the KXNAC logo.

  The card activated when you touched it. The screen went from dim to fully illuminated. It functioned like any other touchscreen communication device. Except this card only dialed one number. Cassy’s. All you had to do was swipe it, and press the button. It would connect to the network and you could videoconference.

  Cassy left the card on the bureau, by Steele’s medications. “Call me anytime. Day or night. That’s an encrypted com-link. Not even Z-SOC can crack the encryption.” She brushed past Steele and sauntered toward the exit. He watched her go. She had a nice saunter.

  “Z-SOC can crack any code,” Steele protested.

  “Can they?” she said, confidently. She looked back over her shoulder at him. She knew he was checking out her backside. “Thanks for the drinks,” she said, then slipped out of the tent.

  CHAPTER 4

  “I’M SORRY, MR. Ferris, but that’s absolutely out of the question,” Colonel Carl Briggs said. His gruff voice was textured from years of single malt scotch. He was sitting at his desk, chewing on the end of a cigar as he spoke.

  Todd Ferris sat across from the colonel in the forward command tent. The two men couldn’t be more different. The colonel was rough, weathered, and carved of stone. His eyes had seen just about everything a man could see. Ferris was delicate and groomed to perfection. They had both been around the world, but Ferris did it on a yacht. The only beaches Ferris stormed were Cannes and St. Tropez.

  Ferris wore a pin-striped Italian designer suit, white shirt, silk tie, and a matching pocket square. The suit was handmade from some of the rarest fibers in the world. Less than 100 were made in a year, and a suit like this would set you back close to $100,000. His calfskin leather shoes cost more than a nice used car. He was the kind of guy that people didn’t say no to.

  Money buys a lot of things, but it wasn’t going to buy the colonel. He despised men like Ferris. And he certainly wasn’t going to give into his request—no matter what Ferris had to offer.

  “Surely there is some mutually beneficial arrangement that we can make?” Ferris said.

  “Mr. Ferris, while I can appreciate your situation, there’s nothing I can do. My hands are tied.”

  “Colonel, I don’t know if I’ve effectively conveyed the importance of my request.”

  “A lot of people had to leave a lot of things behind. You’re no different than anybody else.” The colonel enjoyed saying that.

  Ferris didn’t like hearing it, but he forced a smile. “Yes, it’s tragic that so many lost so much.” His voice was insincere. Then he leaned in. “Perhaps I should make myself more clear. I am willing to handsomely compensate those who would aid in my cause.” Ferris glanced around, slyly. There was no one else in the command tent. There were a few soldiers standing outside.

  The colonel’s eyes narrowed. “Let me get this straight… You want me to provide you with a combat aerial vehicle, a flight crew, and a team of men to enter the quarantine zone? So you can retrieve an undisclosed item?”

  “Yes, and I’m willing to pay a million dollars a person. Plus a gracious fee of $2 million to you for brokering the deal.” Ferris leaned back, almost gloating. He was sure Briggs couldn’t resist that offer.

  Briggs was silent for a long moment. “What you’re asking me to do is not only a violation of article 134, but a blatant disregard of my sworn duties. I could face a court-martial and spend the rest of my days in prison. I'd be compromising national security.” Briggs was seething.

  “Forgive me, I underestimated your worth. Shall we say a $4 million commission to you? Surely a man of your stature could arrange for some type of plausible deniab
ility if things were to go south? Rogue operatives, acting without your knowledge. That sort of thing.”

  The colonel unholstered his sidearm and set it on the desk. “Mr. Ferris, I’m a busy man, and right now I need to clean my weapon. It would be a shame if it accidentally discharged and blew a hole in that vapid little head of yours. I think it would be safer for you if you left now.”

  “I see I have offended you, and for that I am sorry. Perhaps there is some other arrangement we can come to. Just name your price.”

  “Get off my base and don’t ever come back.”

  Ferris wilted. This was one negotiation he wasn’t going to win. He stood up, nodded to the colonel, and left the tent. He ran into Major Steele on his way out.

  Steele had overheard the entire conversation while he was waiting outside the tent—the benefits of a hearing implant in his left ear. There weren’t many things that he liked about being half-cyborg, but that was one of them.

  He wasn’t exactly sure if Briggs turned down the bribe because he knew someone might be listening, or if he really did object on moral grounds. It was a lot of money to turn down. Briggs was a smart guy—you didn’t get to be colonel by being stupid. He certainly knew better than to take a bribe in the command tent—anyone could be listening. Surveillance drones the size of flies could be on the wall. The top brass liked to keep an eye on everything. There was no room for privacy in the Army.

  “You wanted to see me, sir?” Steele said.

  Briggs was already in a bad mood, and the sight of Steele was only making it worse. “You know why I joined the Army, Major?”

  “I don’t know. To avoid jail time?”

  The colonel’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t a fan of sarcasm. Especially not Steele’s.

  “I joined the Army because I don’t like people. And this job lets me kill lots and lots of people. I love what I do. But it’s assholes like you that threaten my job. See, when you look bad, it makes me look bad.”

  “Well, sir, you weren’t that good-looking to begin with.”

  Briggs gritted his teeth. The vein in his forehead started to bulge. His voice rumbled, “Major, you will leave this tent a private if you’re not careful. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The colonel pointed to his collar. “Do you see a star here?”

  “No, sir.”

  “I’ve been busting my ass and shoveling a lot of shit for a long time. I think there needs to be a star here,” he said, tapping at his collar. “And once this operation gets wrapped up, if everything goes according to plan, I’m going to get it.”

  “No one deserves it more than you, sir. Brigadier General Briggs has a nice ring to it.” Steele’s voice was dry and monotone, walking the line of insincerity. But not blatantly sarcastic enough for the colonel to jump down his throat.

  “If you screw this up for me, you’ll regret it.” Briggs’s eyes burned into him.

  “I have no intention of screwing this up for you, sir.”

  “Then stop talking to that fucking reporter. I know she’s got nice tits, but exercise a little restraint.”

  “Sir, I can assure you I have not divulged any classified information, nor will I.”

  “Good. Keep it that way. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”

  *****

  Major Steele marched across the base, heading back toward the bunk tents. He saw Delroy talking to Ferris. He instantly knew a plan was hatching—and so would anyone else who was watching. Steele’s face tightened, and he shook his head. He stormed toward them.

  Delroy’s worried eyes caught sight of the Major approaching. He wasn’t quite sure where the Major was going to stand on this issue. Steele grabbed the two men and shoved them in between two armored assault vehicles.

  “Hey, get your fucking hands off me,” Ferris shouted.

  “Why don’t you two morons just paint a sign on your forehead?”

  “What?” Delroy asked.

  “What is it you need from the containment zone?” Steele asked Ferris.

  “That’s my business,” Ferris replied.

  “Double,” Steele said.

  “Excuse me?” Ferris asked.

  “Double what you offered Briggs.”

  “That’s outrageous.”

  “Then find another escort.” Steele grabbed Delroy by the sleeve and drug him back toward the barracks.

  Delroy was perturbed. “What are you doing, sir?” He sure as hell didn’t want to lose the opportunity to make some money.

  “Shut up and keep walking,” Steele said.

  “But he was going to pay me a half a million bucks to get him into the zone,” Delroy grumbled.

  “Shut up.”

  Delroy didn’t exactly know how to read Steele. Was the major going to report him?

  The two got about twenty feet before Ferris called after them. “Wait.”

  Steele stopped and turned around. “Go back to the barracks,” he grumbled to Delroy, then shoved him off.

  “But, sir?”

  “Go!”

  Steele’s eyes glanced around to make sure no one was looking. Then he marched back between the AAVs.

  “You get me in and out safely—and with my cargo—and we have a deal,” Ferris said.

  “I’ve got to know what we’re getting.” Steele stared him down.

  “Like I said, that’s nobody’s business,” Ferris said. “Take it or leave it.”

  Steele gritted his teeth, and his eyes became slits. It was against his better judgment. But that kind of money could be life-changing. Upgraded bio-mechanical parts. An end to the searing pain. Steele had visions of crystal water, white sands, piña coladas, and a beautiful woman by his side. It was tempting.

  “I want half, up front, in a numbered offshore account.”

  “I can pay you in full when you get me and my cargo safely back on this side of the wall.” Ferris gave him a condescending grin.

  “You don’t look very trustworthy.”

  “You’re just going to have to have a little faith. Besides, I’d be a fool to screw over a man of your capacity.”

  Steele lifted an eyebrow. “You’re a good judge of character, I’ll give you that. Cause one thing is for certain—I’ll kill you if you double-cross me.”

  Steele extended his hand. The two shook on it.

  CHAPTER 5

  “HOW DO I look?” Ferris asked.

  “Like an idiot,” Steele said. “But less of an idiot than you did before.”

  Ferris stood awkwardly in the major’s tent, wearing a full Army Combat Uniform. He looked like a kid playing dress-up. Parker and Delroy gawked at him, disapprovingly.

  “Took me two years to earn those stripes, he gets them in fifteen minutes,” Delroy said.

  “I don’t like it either, but at least he doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb anymore,” Steele said.

  “How are we going to get into the containment zone?” Parker asked. “Can’t do it by foot. The perimeter is lined with proximity mines.”

  “I don’t really like the guy, but what about Kilgore?” Delroy said. “He could fly us in.”

  Parker huffed. “Kilgore hates the major.”

  “Mitchell is flying a routine patrol in the morning. He’s going to drop us off at the LZ,” Steele said. “We’ll have 3 hours to acquire the package and rendezvous at the extraction point.”

  “Can Mitchell keep his mouth shut?” asked Parker.

  “He’ll keep quiet,” Steele said.

  “Just saying, the more people we bring into this, the more there is to go wrong,” Parker said. “And Mitchell has always been a little loose lipped.”

  “You’ve got a better way in?” Steele asked.

  “No.”

  “Mitchell has no idea what we’re doing in there,” Steele said. “For that matter, neither do I.” His eyes glanced to Ferris, who was still fumbling with his uniform.

  “How much did you have to pay him?” Delroy asked.

  “That’s
between me and Mitchell.”

  “He better not be getting more than we are,” said Delroy.

  “Don’t get greedy, Delroy. Let’s get one thing straight. This operation may be a lot of things, but it’s not a democracy. It’s not fair and equitable. You’ll get paid what you agreed to, nothing more, nothing less. You don’t like it, back out now.”

  “No, I’m good,” Delroy said. He wasn’t about to jeopardize his share.

  “What are we going to do if we run into resistance?” Parker asked. “There’s no way the four of us can hold off a swarming horde of those things. Not to mention the gangs. We lost an entire platoon just last week. They’re like a goddamn flash mob. One minute everything seems fine, the next minute there’s a sea of them.”

  “I’m well aware of the dangers, Sergeant. That’s why we need to slip in and slip out undetected,” Steele said. “We go in guns blazing, it’s going to attract a lot of unwanted attention.”

  “What if we run into refugees?” Parker asked.

  “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no such thing,” Steele said. “Everything in that zone is infected. We are not there to help refugees. Keep that in mind, Parker. I don’t need you getting soft on me. You want to help people, go join the Peace Corps.”

  “Was just a question, sir,” she said.

  Steele set a black disc on the table and clicked a button. The lens cover slid open, and the disc projected a 3-D holographic display into the air. Steele flipped through the virtual operating system. He pressed virtual buttons and swiped screens until a map appeared. “Ferris, get over here.”

  Ferris was sitting on a bunk, lacing up his boots. He stood up and walked to the table and took a seat. “When do I get a gun?”

  “Never,” they all replied in unison.

  Ferris looked disappointed. He may have been a billionaire tech giant, but was out of his element in the military world. In a best case scenario, he’d shoot himself in the foot. In a worst-case scenario, he’d shoot someone else.

  Steele pointed to an area on the east side of downtown. “This is the LZ. We’ll make a rooftop insertion.” He glanced to Ferris. “Where’s the package?”