“Then he asked me to join this new team he was forming, a ‘special branch of service,’ he called it. He told me I could get revenge for my parents, and I signed on. Johnny got pretty banged up and got an honorable discharge just before I went to Afghanistan, so when they put us on inactive status, I knew where I wanted to go — wherever he was.” She took a deep breath. “And then you and the others were all wanting to stick together, and I thought that would make everything so much easier.” She came back to the crates, sitting next to me and reaching out to hold my hand. She didn’t look up at me, though, and when I saw teardrops start to fall, I lifted her chin so I could meet her eyes.
“I’m sorry, David. I didn’t want to lie to you, but I didn’t know how to tell you the truth. Then it just got so hard to keep all the secrets, and I withdrew, and…” I smiled at her as I wiped the tears away, and I could feel her shiver as I brushed her hair back over her ear.
Can I trust her again? I wondered. After all, she had kept such a huge part of her life secret. Will I always wonder what else she’s hiding from me?
“I understand why you did what you did, but I can’t just forget about it. So let’s take it slow, okay?”
Kim nodded and smiled. “Okay.”
She smiled as she ran her hand along the side of my face, along my jaw. “I missed you, David,” she said as she leaned in and kissed me. I relaxed and held her close, feeling her against me as I had feared I never would again, never wanting to let her go.
We were startled out of our kiss by a burst of loud clapping and whistling. We looked up as Eaton, Gaines, Martinez and Reynolds finished rounding the corner into our little nook with huge grins on their faces. Martinez and Gaines pounded me on the shoulder. Rachel and Kim were hugging and tearing up just a bit, and Tom stood there like a proud parent, watching us all and smiling so hugely he must have been hurting something.
I looked around at my squad, and was happy for the first time in quite a while. “Ready to kick some zombie ass?” I shouted.
The echoing agreement in the plane was deafening.
A tall, thin man met us in front of the main building as we disembarked from the Humvee that had picked us up from the airfield. Dressed nondescriptly in grey, he was the most average-looking man I had ever seen, and when he spoke, I thought I would die from boredom from the nasal drone of his voice.
“Good evening, gentlemen and ladies. My name is Henry Gardner. I’m the new head of the civilian arm of AEGIS, and the Secretary of Defense asked me to introduce myself to you personally; I thought this would be as efficient as any other method.” We looked at each other, and then the rest of the squad turned to Kim.
Command is a lonely job, I sighed as she turned to the grey man and held out her hand.
“Captain Barnes, 1st Alpha squad, at your service, sir.”
Henry looked down at her hand as if it were some sort of poisonous creature about to bite him, and licked his thin lips. “Yes, well, this way, if you please,” he said.
It appeared that introducing himself was just about the limit of old Henry’s abilities.
Kim and I exchanged glances, and I heard her whisper, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Me, too.”
As we entered the building, it seemed as though nothing had changed. I was surprised when Gardner stopped just outside the mess hall, wondering why we weren’t headed for the briefing room. Inside, all the chairs and tables had been folded or stacked against the walls, and the room was empty apart from two men I knew well, but hadn’t seen in almost a year.
I grinned and there was a cacophony of chatter as we approached Colonel Maxwell and Commander Anderson. They turned at our approach and smiled in welcome.
“David! Good to see you, my boy. It’s been a long time,” boomed Maxwell. He shook my hand as roughly as ever, making me wince, and turned to Kimberly.
For a moment, the tension in the room was palpable, then he held out his arms and she came forward as he embraced her with a huge hug. I smiled as they finally parted, and Maxwell straightened his uniform and cleared his throat.
“Uh, yes, good to see you too, captain,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye as he looked at Kim. “We’ll talk later, but for now just tell me this: Is he all right?”
She nodded. “Yes, sir. He’s fine, and on his way to the Springs as you suggested.”
“Good,” he said, the matter closed for now. “Good to see all of you. The rest of your team should be joining you here momentarily; I’m told they’re landing just now.” He turned to Henry, standing off to one side, looking at the small reunion with vague distaste.
“Henry, perhaps you’d like to greet them as well?”
“Yes, of course, colonel. I will return shortly.” As the door closed behind him, Maxwell turned back to us. “That guy gives me the creeps, plain and simple.”
I’d swear I heard Anderson snort at that comment, but I couldn’t say for sure.
“We’ve got a bit of a surprise for you folks, but we’ll wait until the others get here,” said Frank.
“Sir, shouldn’t we get right to the briefing?” I asked.
Maxwell’s only response was a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, come on, sir. You wouldn’t have activated us just for some sort of reunion. We’ve got a mission.”
Maxwell laughed and shook his head. “Steady, Blake. The birds are fueling now, and the quartermaster is prepping your gear. In the meantime, why don’t you catch us up on what you’ve been doing?” The confusion was considerable as we all began talking at once, but eventually everything calmed down, and the only really big news — that Rachel Eaton was soon to become Rachel Gaines — went over extremely well with our superiors. They were both very congratulatory to the pair.
Soon enough, the rest of our team had arrived and filed in, and the process began again, everyone excited to hear what had happened to everyone else in the time we spent apart. The large space was filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation. The only spot of tension was the one we all expected, between Reynolds and Ames. For his part, Tom seemed to believe that Ames simply didn’t exist. From his reaction, I believe Ames was just as glad to pretend the same thing. Gradually, the talk died down and our attention was diverted to the front of the room as Maxwell and Anderson moved apart.
“1st Team, it’s been a long time.” Cheers were cut short as Maxwell lifted a hand. “I wish we had more time to socialize, but instead, we have a surprise for you, then your activation orders.” Everyone sobered as we were reminded why we were here in the first place. Maxwell nodded to Anderson, who lifted a radio and spoke briefly into it.
“Send them in.”
We turned at the sound of the hall doors opening, and marveled at the sight of soldier after soldier marching through, taking ordered ranks in three separate groups. As the soldiers formed their ranks, I noticed my team quietly whispering amongst themselves, pointing and nodding their approval of the new arrivals. The muttering grew louder as we realized that there were now nearly four full teams, including ours, in the dining hall. Colonel Maxwell broke the silence as the last soldiers took their places in the ranks.
“First Team, fall in!” As though we had never left, we formed our ranks, eyes front and at attention. Maxwell smiled as he saw us form perfect ranks, despite being separated for so long. Not so much as a finger was out of place, and Anderson smirked with pride as well before straightening and also coming to attention. Maxwell paced back and forth before us, something we had all become accustomed to over the course of our tenure at ‘zombie boot camp.’
“About face!” Like clockwork mannequins, we pivoted in place, coming to rest viewing the other soldiers. “First Team, meet your fellow AEGIS personnel.” I was stunned as realized what I had missed previously — the patch each of these men and women wore on their shoulders, showing the familiar logo of AEGIS.
“Teams Two, Three and Four, take a lesson from First Team. They are the example you will set yourself
by. First Team, about face!” We turned again, glad to see nearly forty more recruits added to our roster.
“Operators, as you are aware, we now have a full complement of soldiers. As such, we have been ordered to form the First Company of AEGIS personnel. First and Second Teams will be deploying today. 2nd Team, get geared up and form up at the airfield. 1st Team will remain here for further orders. The rest of you will fall out to the barracks. Dismissed!”
We remained at attention as the rest of the soldiers filed out, and as the last one shut the door behind him, Maxwell turned to us. “All right, fall out, ya lazy bums.” We began talking as we tried to figure out what had happened to cause the sudden surge in manpower. Maxwell came up to me and clapped me on the shoulder. “A word, son?” I nodded and stepped to the side, waiting for the colonel to continue.
“I would never ask this of another soldier, but your unique position in this company provides me with an opportunity that I can’t pass up,” Maxwell said. “No one has ever had a command quite like this, facing things like this. I need to know, straight up and no bullshit, if Kimberly can take it.”
The answer must have been clear on my face. “Settle down,” he said, chuckling. “I was sure of the answer, but I needed to hear it from her second in command.” He put special emphasis on the title, and I was shaken for a moment. He grinned. “That’s right, David. XO is yours. Do us proud.”
I marveled yet again at the change that had come over the formerly dour and severe colonel I said goodbye to less than a year ago. He turned and motioned to Commander Anderson, glancing at Kimberly. Anderson looked thoughtful as well, then nodded firmly, grinning.
“First Team!” Maxwell yelled to get their attention, and I shook my head to clear the ringing. “It’s been a while since you were all in training, and it’s about time we made it official. Say hello to your XO, David Blake. Major Barnes, front and center.”
Kim looked shocked as several people clapped her on the back and a general whooping and hollering rang through the dining hall. She pointed at me, a fierce scowl on her face, then laughed and motioned for everyone to be quiet as she walked up to Maxwell and stood to attention, saluting him.
“Captain Kimberly Barnes, sir.”
Maxwell shook his head. “I don’t believe you heard me correctly, major.”
I could see her swallow and jerk her chin up at his words. “Sir, yes sir!” Maxwell returned her salute, then smiled and shook her hand.
“Congratulations, Kim. You’ve earned it.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” We all surrounded Kim, giving her the standard good luck punch on the arm that she deserved. Maxwell gave us a minute, then ordered us to the briefing room.
“Roosevelt, Utah,” Maxwell was saying only moments later, showing a map of the city on the briefing room’s projector. A small town, with only a handful of streets, a high school, and a couple churches. Could be anywhere in America, I thought. We all sat at the same tables we had occupied before during another important briefing, and I got a strong sense of déjà vu.
“At 1620 hours local time yesterday, my office was informed of a potential outbreak in the area, based on descriptions of bites and symptoms provided by our contacts at the Centers for Disease Control and elsewhere. At 2347 hours, another report came in, indicating that the infection had spread, as we expected, to several other wounded.
“According to the latest word we have from Roosevelt, there are approximately ten to fifteen walkers active at the moment that they are aware of, all of which have been sealed inside the local hospital.
“Your mission is straightforward: You will airlift into the area, clean out the walkers in the hospital, and mop up any stragglers. The Sheriff’s Office has already been informed that USAMRIID is en route, so you shouldn’t have any problems there.
“The locals been ordered to assist you in any way you need, but primarily they’ve been asked to return people to their homes and see that they stay there. Once the walkers have been neutralized, standard containment measures will follow.”
‘Standard containment’ was the Army euphemism for burning homes and smaller structures, and thoroughly decontaminating larger ones with chemicals that could kill you with even the most minute exposure.
Glad I’m not those guys, I thought.
He turned off the projector and as the lights came back on, he stood with arms folded. “We don’t believe this is an isolated incident. I’m not authorized to disclose additional intel at this time, but Commander Anderson will be in command of this op, as requested by our new liaison.” Heads turned to look at Gardner, at one side of the room.
He regarded us impassively, as if we were merely bugs… or pawns.
Maxwell continued, “The commander will be recording your op, and this will be reviewed by higher. In this case, that means the Secretary and possibly the president himself, gentlemen. So no fuck-ups, clear?”
As one unit, we shouted “Clear!” loud enough that Mr. Gardner spooked and looked nervous, causing more than one of us to grin. Even Commander Anderson flashed a smile that was just as swift in disappearing.
“Report to the quartermaster for gear, then to the hangar. Wheels up in twenty. Dismissed.” As we filed out, I glanced over at Mr. Gardner, and found him looking at me. Noticing my glance, he shifted his attention to others.
What exactly is he looking for? I wondered. Not that it matters; this one’s going by the book if I have to kick every ass in the team — assuming Kim doesn’t do it first. I could tell from her expression that Kim was thinking the same thing.
We made it to the C-17 Globemaster in seventeen minutes, geared up and ready for action. I whistled as I stepped out of the Humvee, amazed and feeling more than a little tiny next to the gargantuan airplane. The noise from the turning rotors fit the big beast; it was almost unbearably loud as we clambered up the back ramp. Several Humvees were chained to the decking, National Guard logos obvious on their sides.
I noticed Anderson strapped in near Kimberly, and chose a seat close to them. “Good to have you with us, sir,” I said. “We can sure use another experienced hand here.”
He nodded back and grimaced. “Just be glad you don’t have to deal with the bean counters, Blake,” he said, tapping the camera mounted to his helmet.
I chuckled and shook my head. “That’s why you get the big bucks, commander.” He rolled his eyes at me.
Moments later we took off, headed at max speed into the pre-dawn darkness. I glanced over at Kim, but she was studying the briefing materials and the map we’d been given with an intensity I had come to recognize. This was going to be her first ‘real’ action against a serious outbreak, as it would be for the rest of the team, except me. I’d already had my initiation.
Some time later, I awoke suddenly and took a second to get my bearings, and then realized we were still on the plane headed to Roosevelt. I noticed many of the others around me catching cat-naps, except Kim and Commander Anderson, who were having something of an animated conversation.
“So you saw action like this in Central America, sir?” she asked.
Anderson nodded. “SEAL Four was tasked with some anti-narcotic raids deep in the jungle in Panama, a couple hundred klicks east of Panama City. We were trying to get some dirt on Noriega, some sort of proof that he was working both ends against the middle by helping out his dealer friends. Justification for the invasion, you see.” He snorted, shaking his head. “That was one of the few times we actually got good intel that wasn’t corrupted by some asshole wagging his tongue for a few balboas.”
“We put in near Mamitimpo and humped it in. About a klick out, we stopped to recon, and what we found was not what we expected. It looked like a war zone before we even got there. We could see the shacks for processing cocaine, or at least what was left of them. We had no idea what we were in for.”
He went on to tell us the details of his sojourn in that far-off jungle in such vivid detail that I could see it as though I’d been there my
self.
“I was never so quiet in my life as I was during the hike out of there. It took us more than three hours to make it, and we were scared shitless every step of the way,” said Anderson. I realized yet again that if this man, this gung-ho, never-say-die, I-can-kill-you-seventeen-ways-with-my-thumb career bad-ass was even a little scared of what he had seen, then it was probably okay that I was, too.
“MacMillan was bitten though, wasn’t he?” Kimberly asked.
Anderson nodded and sighed. “He died on the chopper back to JTOC at Fort Sherman. That’s where I met the colonel. Hamish’s body was placed in the morgue and I was held for debriefing. Less than eight hours later, Hamish had reanimated and been put down by the MPs and the base was under lockdown. The colonel debriefed me; he let me know what had happened to Hamish, and why. I didn’t believe him at first, but when he showed me what was left, I understood. I’ve been with him ever since.”
The Dying of the Light (Book 1): End Page 11
