Designated (Book 1): Designated Infected

by Ricky Cooper

  A slim hand shook his shoulder, the water rippling and collapsing in on itself as his eyes slowly, almost sluggishly, opened. A pair of smiling emerald green eyes stared down at him. They sparkled and danced as he blearily looked up at them, a feeling of warmth and light drenched his soul as they held him in a trance.

  'Sleepy there soldier?'

  Baker smiled as he lifted a wet bubble coated hand and caressed her cheek, her soft slender digits encircled his hand as she turned her head and kissed his open palm.

  'You get yourself washed and dried, dinner is almost ready.'

  Her smile seemed to bathe him in light as she stood and walked from the bath room. A soft contented sigh escaped him as he let his head fall back against the cold tiles of the wall, smiling he pushed himself up and stepped free from the bath tub, his feet splashing ever so slightly in the minuscule puddles he left in his wake as he walked from the bathroom in search of a towel and fresh clothing.

  The sound of bare feet slapping gently on the hard wood flooring of the hallway drew Janet's attention as she set the table. Looking up, she smiled warmly at the sight of her husband as he entered the room. The image of the food adorning the plates made Baker salivate, he sat down heavily, the oak dining chair creaking under his weight as he plucked his fork from the table.

  He stared greedily as the steel utensil speared a prostrate piece of broccoli, within a few minutes both of them were lost in the comfortable loving silence.

  36

  The ringing in her ear was the first thing she remembered of reality as her sleep soaked eyes slowly opened, the room blurring and swirling as she struggled to focus on her surroundings.

  Janet scratched at her scalp as she looked around the darkened room, Derek's slumbering form rumbled softly beside her, his mind deep in the bowels of sleep.

  'Git.' She elbowed his side as she levered herself from the bed, a short grunted complaint issuing forth from her sleeping partner as he rolled away and shifted himself into a more comfortable position.

  Padding through the hall, she drew her fingers through her tousled hair as she reached for the phone.

  'Hello.'

  The line crackled slightly causing Janet to frown, asking again a small feminine voice answered.

  'Mrs. Baker?'

  Janet's brow furrowed further as she heard the soft questioning reply.

  'Yes.'

  'Good, I am glad I have the right number. Derek is required at the centre at once, we have had a rather urgent development and I didn't want to put it through the usual method of contact, just please tell him to hurry'

  'Who is this?'

  A soft lilting sigh rolled through the receiver, putting Janet's teeth on edge as she struggled to contain her slightly irrational anger at the intrusion into her somewhat peaceful rest.

  'Anastasia.'

  The name rung a small bell in the depths of Janet's mind, the peeling echoed through her as she struggled to recall exactly where she had heard that name before.

  'You're the biologist.'

  A soft echo of a chuckle jangled against Janet's already anger frayed nerves.

  'That is one of my skills, yes.'

  'Fine I'll tell him, but you do realise what time it is.'

  Anastasia sighed again.

  'I do, and I am deeply sorry for the intrusion, but unfortunately these things never happen at hospitable times and Derek did ask me to notify him of any and all changes. Between me and you Mrs. Baker, this is something he needs to hear about'

  Janet sighed deeply knowing she had been a little too sharp with a woman who was only doing her job. As if sensing the regret Anastasia spoke again.

  'And do not worry about your reaction to my call, I understand completely; please rest assured I am nothing more than a colleague of your husband's, things of a more personal nature are harder for a person in my position to come by. Now please tell him to hurry'

  'I will.'

  'Thank you.'

  Janet hung up wondering just what she meant by her last comment, she scratched at her head once more as she padded back towards the bedroom, stopping short of the door way as Derek stepped through it already dressed. A look of hurt tinged surprise echoed across her features as he stepped by her.

  'I felt you get up, when you didn't return for more than four minutes I figured something was wrong. I'll be back as soon as possible huni, I love you.'

  Planting a soft kiss on her lips he walked down the hallway towards the stairs his boot covered feet echoing. Janet's slim form leant against the door frame, tears tugging at her eyes as she listened to the door shut.

  ****

  Sipping sharply at a Styrofoam cup, Derek walked into the base laboratory's sterile corridors, the harsh halogen strip lights' glow bouncing about like a laser, his tired and over stressed eyes making him wince as the light hit them.

  'What's the problem? It better be a good one, this was the first time in five weeks I actually slept in my own bed.'

  Anastasia looked up from the microscope in front of her as Baker strode through the doors. Marcus hurried past, his head turned away in a pale and weak attempt to hide the livid deep purple bruising garnishing his right cheek, eye socket and upper lip.

  Anastasia sighed deeply as she rolled towards Baker, a remote in her hand clicked softly as she activated a large VDU on the wall.

  Footsteps drew Baker's attention away from the flickering screen as he watched Colinson and Davies both enter as well. A weight settled in Derek's stomach as he watched his co-commander and second in command enter the room.

  'It isn't good news is it, Anna?'

  She shook her head softly, 'I am afraid not.'

  Davies stared at the screen on the wall, his mind turning as he looked at the images filtering past.

  'My guess is, it's mutated again and is working on a vastly accelerated scale.'

  Anastasia's chin dropped as she looked at the soldier who now stood beside Baker.

  'How, how did you guess that?'

  Davies smiled, 'I didn't, it's no different to battlefield progression, when you're sure you have the enemy on enough of a wrong foot and he can't consolidate his units fast enough. You push forwards and press your advantage while you still have it; this virus is no different.'

  Anastasia looked at him coyly, 'I like you.' Davies grinned at her, 'Get to know me better, and I'm sure you will like me even more.' A wry smile played across his face as he winked at Anna, a soft groan emanating from Baker as he rolled his eyes.

  'Will you two cut it out, everyone here knows you have been dating for the past four weeks, what I want to know is what the damned virus is doing now? I know it reacted differently to each test subject and mutated at a base level within them, but what's so urgent now that warranted the three of us being here?'

  Anastasia's smile faltered as she motioned for the three of them to follow her, Davies stepped forwards and grabbed the handles on the rear of her chair as she moved past him.

  She opened her mouth to protest, but her arguments and protestation died on her lips as she met his gaze.

  'Thought you could do with a little bit of rest.'

  Anastasia smiled at him.

  'I would say that it's a way of sweeping a girl off her feet, but, I guess that doesn't really apply here.' Davies snorted with laughter as he pushed her towards the cells at the back of the laboratory.

  'Guess not.' As the chair tilted forwards at the top of the ramp, Davies gently released the handles and let her move out of his path.

  A shadowed groan and flickering movement made all three men pause as they watched the cell in front of them flicker into life.

  'This is Subject Z. He was injected with a strain from one of the samples recovered from a previous subject, and he, I must tell you is not the first one to react this way. After subject O, they have all reacted pretty much along Z's lines.'

  'Anna cut the bullshit what is going on?'

  Derek's stern gaze gave her pause, seeing the look simmeri
ng in his eyes she nodded.

  'Subject Z was injected six hours ago and as you can see is already well past a stage four infection, also it has developed the ability to temporarily inhabit non-living tissue, although it is only while it still retains some semblance of blood-flow, or in extremely rare cases; body heat.'

  Davies nodded, 'Saw that about eight months ago in South East London, Infected munched on some kid's mother. Jones had to drop her in front of him; after she got back up. Tried to use her son as a breakfast bap.' Anastasia looked at him shock registering on her face as the words sank in. 'You saw that happen?'

  Davies shook his head, 'Nah love, not me it was Jones, my second in command, but sounds the same as you just described, although none of the others matched, fast fuckers they were. Wouldn't stay put long enough for you put a hole in their head. They looked fresh, well I say fresh, a lot them weren't even sporting the acne from hell you mentioned in the files; most of them were clean skinned. Only thing that tipped you off was when they tried to tear you face off.'

  'But how, unless...' Her face fell in upon itself as she thought through the ramifications of what had just dawned on her. 'There is more than one mutable variation.'

  Baker smiled, 'That's obvious Anna.'

  Waving a hand to quiet them she carried on. 'No...what I am saying is that it's a completely different virus, same effects but a completely new form, look'

  She rolled past them to a console and motioned at the monitor still flickering away on its own.

  'The virus, as we know it, still contains key traits in any variation we have encountered, see?'

  She used the consoles mouse to highlight key locations on the screen. All three men stood there quietly waiting for the punchline.

  'Do we have any samples drawn from the mission Sergeant Davies is referring to?'

  Baker nodded, 'That we do, the sterilisation team sent in after us was kind enough to keep them on ice until the situation had been nullified, we received them about a month ago.'

  Anastasia's face went deathly pale which made all three men cringe, she spun to face Colinson and Baker; the pair instinctively stepping back a pace as she seethed. 'Why in God's name am I only just being told now?'

  Davies stood there smirking at his commander's reaction, until she turned her ire onto him. Holding his hands up, he back peddled rapidly. 'Don't look at me love, I just shoot shit.'

  Baker pulled the hand-held radio from his hip and spoke rapidly before he turned, clipping the radio back on to his belt as he did.

  'Four minutes.'

  Anastasia nodded her thanks and moved away as a rapid vibrating buzz filled the room. All three men pulled a small pager from their hip and collectively groaned.

  'Catch you later, we got to go shoot something.'

  Davies flipped her a cocky wave as he, Baker, and Colinson sprinted from the room.

  37

  Baker stood in the back of the van, a headset clasped in his hand as he held the earphone to the side of his head.

  'This is command, you are cleared for go, but be advised there are civilians still on site we have not been made aware of the situation.'

  Davies raised an eyebrow as he watched Baker issue the command, the screens in front of him flickered as they bounced between the CCTV cameras in the building. He ran a hand over the back of his neck, the sweltering heat of the van making his skin run alive with sweat.

  'You sure this is a wise thing to do Chief? I mean, don't get me wrong, they're good soldiers, excellent in the field and aggressive as hell when it comes to storming any fortification or holding a beach head but they ain't that well versed in close quarters warfare, especially room clearance.'

  Baker nodded, 'I know, but your boys are still on leave and the rest are all off on other operations. My boys are a man short so no choice here; besides they know what they're doing, their Three Para cousins are specialising in this sort of thing.

  'So to give them a leg up, we slipped them into the mix down at the Rock Barracks in Wood Bridge, so they should be fine'

  Davies stayed mute on the subject. He knew there was no way he could refute the training they had received, it was a first class training centre and a place he knew all too well.

  'R.R.T be advised there is a large civilian presence in the centre room, and a uneven spread throughout the first and second floors, infection reported on second and third floors, strain unknown. Recommend detainment of all persons above first floor. Ground and first floors to be dealt with as you see fit.'

  Dreamers Night Club

  South West London

  They moved as one, their boots thumping on the dust and grit littered concrete floor. Woodwrow motioned with a gloved hand and watched as Williams and Brooks moved forwards weapons raised.

  Dropping to one knee, they panned left and right. Their eyes searched, pushing through the darkened gloom, of the underground club. The thumping bass rattled the paper cups littering the floor as the team moved onwards, Kerr looked down and watched as the cup bounced in time to the pounding vibrations of the tower speakers only a few feet away trapped behind the double swing doors.

  'Right boys. We do this by the numbers, keep switched on and watch your corners. Kerr, Clarkson, I want you two to sit tight on the entrance here and watch for anything coming down those stairs. If it ain't us or a civvie, drop it.'

  They both nodded and hunkered down in the entry hall as the rest of the team moved off up the stairs. The doors rattled, thumping in their frame. Kerr and Clarkson exchanged a look of tension filled confusion as the doors rattled once more. Their weapons wavered slightly as they took aim at the slabs of steel-shod wood before them.

  The door began to swing open. Kerr and Clarkson rose to standing, their aim set squarely on the door ahead of them. Swinging open the smiling, flushed, blurry eyed face of a flaxen haired twenty-something stumbled through, the cacophonous thumping of the music rising to an almost painful level. She gazed about her for a few seconds as she took stock of where she was, she scratched at her head the small clutch purse in her hand ensnaring her hair as she did so.

  An indecipherable stream of alcohol slurred cursives rolled off her tongue as she fought with the sequin encrusted accessory. Both men watched her struggle as the doors slid to a close silencing the din once more. The woman eventually extricated herself from the offending purse and tottered away towards the exit and much to the bewildered amazement of the two troopers not once did she even hint upon noticing either one of them.

  Kerr and Clarkson looked at one another in unison, a semi subconscious grin formed on Kerr's face as he watched the blonde woman pass them by completely oblivious to their presence.

  'Top, we got a civvie coming out, appears intoxicated and unharmed, she exited the dance floor on the ground level.'

  Mobile Operations Centre

  The Van

  Baker sat perched on a half back chair, his booted feet resting on the steel edge of the table bolted to the side of the van's interior. Davies leant against the dividing partition, a string of cables snaking its way past his head to the cluster of antennae on the van's roof.

  A cigarette hung limp from Davies' lip as he stared at the grey steel sheet above him.

  'What happened in Kabul?'

  Baker's eyes remained closed as he leant back in his chair. Sighing he scratched at his head as he laced his fingers together and leant into the cradle they formed against the back of his skull.

  'A lot of things, and some of them not very good, others worse than that.'

  Davies smirked as he pulled the cigarette from his lips, tapping the ash from the end he drew on it deeply. Blowing the smoke from his lungs he watched as it circled and pooled against the ceiling before being sucked up through the small gap around the cables.

  'Don't fuck about Derek, tell me what happened.'

  Derek snorted derisively as he opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.

  'Okay you asked for it. It was in '05, a year after my indoctrination a
s the unit commander for S.A.U One, replacing Pottergate, the former unit head and the original commander appointed there by her Majesty herself. Anyway, as I was saying, Pottergate had died the year before, with me as his second in command at the time, I was jumped up to the head spot.

  'Kabul was a shit storm waiting to happen, and the SFTG had been chomping at the bit to get in there and wipe the floor with the situation.

  'Well, top got a whiff of the virus being in the area and went over their heads and called us in instead. The same thing had happened the year before, and believe me the SFTG were pissed.'

  Davies smirked as he flicked the cigarette butt at the bin in the far corner of the van.

  'Heard about that, some of the lads in my old squad were tasked to them.'

  Baker nodded as he carried on.

  'Anyway, the contingent passed over was a unit we had all known pretty well run by a stuffed shirt Colonel named Ridgmont. He was a mean fucker when he was my commander in the Marines, despite that, he had always played it straight with the Intel, until he ended getting his kid killed along with fifty other guys from Charlie company. After that...well...' Baker shrugged, 'I heard that over the course of the three years following my transfer to Broadhead, he went off the deep end.

  'Although no one would dare to cross him he gambled with deployments and Risk Evals, ending up with some of his missions going off a little less than perfectly.'

  Davies nodded, and twirled his hand motioning for Baker to carry on.

  'We were doing a standard sweep and clear operation, nothing fancy, and it was going pretty well until, that is, we found ourselves in a situation that shall we say didn't match our Intel.'

  Davies just shrugged, 'So when does it?'

  Baker smirked at him, 'True, but this...well.'

  Baker chuckled darkly as he dredged up the memory.

  'We found out that Ridgmont and his team had received classified intelligence files detailing drone, aerial surveillance and the thermal scans from the C130's, none of which ever made it into our hands.