Soldiers of ZED: Book 1 - Tripton-Z Series

by WR Peden

  “OK” responds DJ adds in acknowledgement

  “How many rounds do you have?” I ask.

  DJ pops the clip out of his pistol and responds “I have about 4 left” I hand DJ another pistol clip and my handgun.

  “Here take this, use it when you need to, my rounds won't fire in your gun.” DJ acknowledges and takes my handgun and extra clip. I motion for DJ to head up the hill but stay quiet. I proceed to tactically walk up the remainder of the onramp and I kneel down at the corner of the intersecting road and grass line of the gas station. I motion for DJ to start firing.

  DJ hesitates but pulls his pistol out, aims it towards the group and starts blindly firing. To both of our surprise DJ was actually hitting the zombies, one in the chest and another one in the leg causing them to stumble. Just like my plan, the zombies started heading towards DJ and the gunfire. I look around to make sure we are not attracting any unwanted attention from the nearby area. I then start to slowly walk up towards the gas station flanking the zombie group headed towards DJ. I see a car in the parking lot run up to the car and tap it to check for an alarm. Luckily no alarm so I lean against it, peeking around the corner. I grab the rifle; pop the magazine out checking how many rounds I have left in it. Fortunately almost a full thirty round magazine still so I put it back in and aim down the barrel. I fire one shot nailing a zombie in the head and he goes down. Just as the group halts due to me hitting the one zombie, DJ who has been taking pop shots every 30 seconds or so, fires another round. This time he strikes one of the zombies in the head and he goes down as well. DJ immediately takes another shot dropping yet another zombie.

  With our recent success and the momentum building, I open fire along with DJ as the group starts dropping one by one. After just a few minutes the entire group lays motionless on the ground. I step out from behind the car that I had previously been using as a barrier, look around and ensure it is safe before motioning for DJ to come up and join me.

  “Make sure to put the safety on before putting that pistol away,” I instruct DJ as he gets closer.

  DJ nods and puts on the safety. I do the same to my rifle and sling it on my back where it has been previously positioned. DJ and I walk over to the doors of the gas station, look around and try to open the doors. Much to our surprise one of the doors was unlocked and the store appears to have not been ransacked. I open the door and the ding of the doorbell goes off. I stop, pull out the rifle and get prepared in case anyone or anything is inside. I hear a faint groan coming from right behind the counter.

  “DJ, see that door right there, pull your pistol out and watch my back, I'm going to check behind the counter,” I tell DJ.

  I move towards the counter, checking down each of the 3 isles as I make my way to the opening. I step around the counter and see a zombie, wearing the well-known gas station red vests just lying on the ground attempting to get up. I sling my rifle on my back again and stomp the zombie in the head multiple times. Just as I finish stomping the zombie, DJ fires his pistol right behind me causing me to drop down while aiming the rifle and turning around. I see a zombie stumble back just a couple of feet from where I am. DJ fires a second time this time striking it in the head causing it to collapse onto the ground. After that shock, I pop up and thank DJ as I put my rifle back up and walk towards the office door that this zombie came from but stop as I notice something on one of the recently deceased. I kneel down, pick up the zombies arm and notice a bite mark.

  “What the hell is going on?” I think to myself. I drop the arm, stand back up and finish walking to the door. I grab my rifle and poke the rifle barrel into the doorway as I peek around. I proceed to step in to the office making sure that it is clear, in which it seems to be. I sling the rifle yet again and begin to speak to DJ.

  “Hey, you should be good. Do me a favor and lock that front door but make sure to keep your head on a swivel while out there as that entire front is glass.” I mention.

  “So...so... we are safe?” Asks DJ. I nod causing DJ to let out a huge sigh as he puts the pistol away, turns around and locks the door. He then starts looking through the aisle grabbing a variety of food. I step out of the office, do a quick look around, notice a security camera system, I look behind me and see a monitor and system on the desk in the office.

  Being that I use to install security systems for a living when I got out of the military my brain started to race as I start thinking to myself.

  “I wonder if that would show me what exactly happened here. What caused these people to become zombies? I mean Hollywood has portrayed them so horribly but if we learned anything, it had to happen somehow some way. I will have to check that before we leave.” I then look over and see DJ eating, so I decide that looked like a good idea, walk over to the isles and find me some food as well. DJ and I sit down in front of the counter and begin to eat, getting up occasionally to get more food or drinks. After about a half hour of occasional snacking and getting our stomach full, I notice DJ nodding off.

  “DJ,” I said startling him. “It's getting dark out; let's head back to the office so we can at least barricade ourselves inside to help protect us through the night.” DJ gets up and goes to the office as I get up and shut off the main lights of the store leaving the standard dim lights in the store to not attract any unnecessary attention. After ensuring the security of the store and checking outside to look for signs of life, I go into the office. As I enter I see DJ propped up in a corner passed out already. I take all the ammunition and weapons out of my pockets and lay them on the floor beside the door as I shut and secure the door behind me.

  I go and sit down at the desk where the security camera setup I saw when we first arrived is located. I go to log in and try the standard default, luckily for me it works and lets me right into the playback. I start from the time we arrived and start rewinding it at quarter speed while watching the video to try and see anything unusual pop out at me. After reviewing hours of mind numbing zombies walking around and just staring blankly around I notice what looks to me like a transition into a zombie but in reverse. I finish rewinding to what is the start of the transition and start regular playback from there. As I watch closely I notice a similarity in markings on one of the bodies that start to look like decaying flesh. One of the victims started to have convulsions and foaming at the mouth before a sudden stop in movement throughout the body. This seemed very strange, and I had never seen this before. The surrounding infected seem emotionless towards the different zombie, one of them standing near the soda machine started clawing at his own face, he was clawing so hard that he began to bleed and started to rip the flesh off of his face. I speed up the video playback and continue monitoring the infected transition from dead to undead but suddenly stop the playback once the convulsing one starts to stir again. After intently looking at the now turned person I begin to notice that it is the same zombie that attacked me when we first entered the store.

  I paused the camera footage and rummage through the desk looking for any kind of USB, or CD to make a copy of the footage. While I scavenged I found a notebook with a variety of what could potentially be passwords, and sit it next to me on the desk. Then continued searching throughout the desk reaching the bottom drawer, I removed all of the files and folders complied with all employee records throwing them by the wayside. Just as I was about to close the drawer I noticed a small USB jump drive. I grabbed it and instinctively put it into the recorder of the camera system using my prior knowledge. I knew the jump drive needed to be formatted prior to transferring files. I went through the necessary steps and started to get the entire block from prior to transition until we arrived. I started to transfer the files onto the jump drive. After starting I noticed the jump drive status stated two hours of download left. I decided this would be a great time to rest as the files transferred, I propped up against the door such as DJ did along the wall. As I prop against the door I could see DJ fast asleep, then I look around and start processing the day and how it
has gone as I slowly drift to sleep.

  Chapter 4

  The next morning I wake up to see DJ over at the security cameras watching the transition footage over and over

  “Everything alright I ask”? DJ just nods yet not removing his eyes from the footage. I stand up and walk over grabbing the USB out of the recorder.

  “It will be fine, let's see about finding some bags for our supplies” I instruct.

  DJ agrees and almost zombie like opens the door and begins searching the store. As I wonder to myself if DJ can handle this, considering the lack of experience for any catastrophic event. I begin to search around the office in more detail looking for anything of potential use. As I’m searching I find a backpack underneath one of the desks, I open the bag and shake out all of the contents then put the bag in a nearby chair so I can refill it. I rummage through the contents only finding a pack of cigarettes and lighter, the only things of use. I put the cigarettes on the outside of the bag and slide the lighter into my front pocket. I then pickup the extra ammunition I took with me from the Silent Soldiers and put it in the bag as well. Still having space in the pack I continue my search of the office. I am not really finding much more of anything useful, I get ready to stop my search and catch a safe out of the corner of my eye under a table in the corner of the room. Remembering the notebook with passwords from last night I grab it and attempt various codes.

  With minimal attempts I stumble upon the correct combination and the safe opens. Knowing the world is in the beginning of an apocalypse and unsure of the value money may still have, I grab as many stacks as I can and put them in the backpack. I think to myself if nothing else it makes great burning material, as I hope it could be used as a potential financial benefit for myself and DJ.

  “Any luck?” I ask DJ. A faint answer comes back muffled, Curiously I grab my rifle that I laid against the wall last night and step outside the office to check on DJ. As I look around I can't see him and start towards the front door.

  “DJ, Where are you at?” I asked.

  A murmur is heard from the back behind the refrigerated section. With my weapon at the ready, I walk towards the storage area in the back of the store. As I get there I slowly open the door leading my way into the back with my rifle. Still not seeing DJ I call out once again, hearing the murmur even louder but still muffled, I see an industrial refrigerator. I think to myself there is no way but I go to the door and pull the handle to open it and see DJ with his hands crossed hugging himself as he shivers uncontrollably. DJ walks out and instantly goes through the store into the office, turns on the heater and tries to warm up. I try not to snicker as DJ walks by, but somehow manage to contain the laughter. I shake my head as I snicker again at the thought of DJ being stuck in the cold refrigerator. I walk out to the main part of the store still snickering. I walk over to the fountain drink area and see if the coffee machine was functionally operable. Fortunately, it appears to still be in working order so I make a pot of coffee to help aid my poor friend in warming up. While the coffee is being made I complete the search that DJ had started in the storage room finding very little that could be of any use. I head back out to check on the coffee, as I walk by the window something catches my attention. I turn and look to see what has to be at least two to three dozen zombies all walking down the road in front of the store. I squat trying not to be seen and move towards the end of the aisle to ensure we were not spotted as I am not sure the glass would hold. Just as the horde is passing in front of the store I hear the distinct sound of screeching tires from the road behind the store. DJ, still cold, comes out of the office pistol in his trembling hand to see what that sound was and what was happening. I motion and whisper for him to get down pointing at the front of the store towards the horde. I notice the horde had come to a stop and focused towards our direction. I run towards DJ, telling him to stay here as I run to the office to grab the bag I had begun to fill earlier. I come back out with the bag handing it to DJ telling him to fill with jerky and snacks we could use as nutrients if need be.

  “I am going to try and take a peek out back to see what is going on.” I tell DJ.

  I then head back to the storage room where I noticed a back door while searching earlier. As I get near the door I check it over to see if there is an alarm attached. I don't notice one and go to open the door, luckily for us I was correct. With my rifle ready I slowly peek out the back door towards the sounds of the tires squealing. I notice in the parking lot behind us a car going in circles, doing donuts smacking zombie after zombie with his car causing a demolition derby of undead. I quickly back up into the building shutting the door making sure it was still locked, and call for DJ to come back.

  “Here's the plan, We are going to head out this door and make a run towards the interstate while that jackass is distracting those things”

  “Don't we want to help him?” DJ asked.

  “I would but at this point, he is in safer place than us with the car he is using” I explained.

  I pop open the door again looking towards the zombie pile and quickly back into the direction we were about to head.

  “On one.” I say, raising my hand in the air and start counting down from three.

  As I reach one, I slam open the door, DJ and I take off in a dead sprint towards the interstate, not looking back. As we reach the interstate we slow down as I look behind us to check and see if we were followed. After ensuring we should have enough distance between the horde and us I grab DJ's shoulder to slow down so we could catch our breath. I reach into the bag on DJ's back and pull out a water bottle he had stored. I take a quick gulp then hand it to DJ. As we are walking down the road, we continue to keep our heads on a swivel and continue to check out any and all cars along the now abandoned interstate. While we make our way down the road, I begin to think to myself, at least Hollywood got it partially right, they are decaying flesh hell bent on killing and turning everyone. We walk for what has to have been close to an hour, picking up a few additional supplies we managed to scavenge along our way. Just up ahead I notice a truck on the side of the road.

  As we get closer I holler out. “Hey, this is mine! I wonder if the keys are still in it or laying around, We could use it to get to the base faster and less likely to be eaten." I tell DJ.

  DJ nods in acknowledgement. As we get near the truck DJ hops on the tailgate and finishes downing the bottle of water he was drinking as I look around. After a once over on and around the truck I try the driver's door to no avail, it won't even budge. I then remembered without the key you can't get into the drivers side because of the locking mechanism that broke over a year ago. I move to the passenger side door trying to get in to the vehicle before anything approaches. As I try the passenger door it opens right up. I do a quick check for the keys as I climb in, reach across to the driver's door and open it from the inside. I do not see the keys on the dashboard or on the seats so I holler at DJ to help look for the keys as I hold the drivers door open. Leaving the backpack on the tailgate DJ hops down and grabs the door from me and immediately starts searching the interior on that side, as I begin to search the other side. After what felt like an eternity and just as I was about to give up searching DJ noticed a small glare coming from a nearby vehicle. DJ, without haste or a single thought of security, runs over, drops down and reaches under the car grabbing a keychain in which I recognize as mine the moment I see it. As he starts to get up, keys in hand a zombie reaches out from under the car grabbing DJ's arm startling him and causing him to flail around rattling the keys and yelling out. I run his direction trying not to attract any more unwanted attention all while trying to calm DJ down. DJ manages to break free of the grasp on his arm and repeatedly starts to stomp the zombie's arm until it looks like his arm went through a meat grinder. I reach DJ and make sure he is fine, only to look around and notice the commotion has attracted the unpleasant site of a few of his undead friends.

  “We have to get out of here, I state as I grab the k
eys as we run past them towards the truck. I get in the driver's seat as DJ grabbed the backpack and jumped in the other side. After I put the key in the ignition, my first attempt was unsuccessful, fearing I would flood the vehicle I stopped, waited then tried again. DJ keeps looking back and forth uncontrollably shaking as the zombies approach and start to surround the truck. This time the truck turned over but didn’t start at the last minute. DJ starts snatching at my shoulder telling me to look back, as I look a zombie is trying to find his way onto the tailgate. I turn the truck completely off and try to crank it one more time, this time successfully getting it to crank. I quickly put the truck in reverse slamming into the group of zombies causing the one by the tailgate to face plant the back window. I then shifted into drive and pushed the gas pedal down to the floor, barreling through the remaining zombies, heading down the interstate towards the base causing the one in the truck bed to fall out. DJ starts to hoot and holler with excitement as we will finally be able to make it to the base we were invited to. Knowing the odds are against me I turn the radio on and try to find any station possible to figure out exactly what is going on. The only station that seemed to work is broken up and full of static but I make out the words Tripton-Z, and zombie virus, but can't quite put it together. I leave it on that station in case we are able to pick it up better as we make our way down the road. We continue making our way down the interstate passing all of the abandoned cars but looking for any and all signs of life outside the vast majority of the undead. As we approach the first Richland, Missouri exit, I see movement on the opposite side of the interstate but cannot quite make out what it is. Slowing down I hand DJ the rifle and he hands me the pistol as I lay it on my lap. Approaching I notice what looks like a middle aged man alone, having an uneasy feeling I regrettably pull over and bring the truck to a stop. I tell DJ to stay put as I hop out with the pistol in hand and slowly approach the man. As I get closer I suddenly hear a loud commotion behind me and turn just in time to see a variety of vehicles hopping onto the interstate from a nearby field surrounding DJ, my truck and me. I immediately point my gun at the man just ahead and demand to know what is going on.