Z Plan (Book 3): Homecoming

by Lerma, Mikhail

  “Adapt and overcome,” he said as he pulled out his knife then cleared the ground at the center of the group.

  He then went to work recreating the map from memory on the ground.

  “We’ll start with the known,” he explained. “Here is the airstrip.”

  He made a square and placed an “RP” within it.

  “RP?” Grey asked.

  “Rest Point,” interjected Ballard.

  “Good,” Curtis smiled.

  He then drew a long curvy line a few inches to the right of it.

  “The coast?” inquired Huffman.

  “Yeah,” he answered.

  “Does anybody else feel like we’re playing a weird game of Pictionary right now?” Cale joked.

  The group laughed. Curtis then drew a straight line paralleling the coast. Then along the straight line he wrote in the number “42.” Out in the water he placed an “X.”

  “Okay,” he began. “This is approximately where we crashed,” he pointed to the “X.”

  He then traced a line over to the “42.” “This is the highway we crossed.”

  “And the number?” Ballard asked.

  “It’s a mile marker,” Grey answered.

  “Right. I saw it when we were running,” Curtis added. “We can’t be too sure how far we’ve come inland but I think it’s safe to assume that we are south of the airstrip.”

  “We’re actually about thirteen miles south of it right now,” informed Grey.

  “How do you know?” inquired Cale.

  “I’m from here,” she confessed. “From the area, I mean.”

  “That’s great,” said Curtis excited.

  “I know the roads and stuff,” she added. “I’m not familiar with the wilderness here,” she gestured around them. “We’re on one of the wildlife preserves right now.”

  “Can you think of anywhere we could go and lay low for a couple of days?” Curtis asked.

  “The only place I can think of is a few miles out of our way,” she pointed to the west side of the map and made a circle. “It’s a small unincorporated town.”

  “How small?” he asked.

  “Population of twenty-three. They don’t even have a post office,” she explained. “It’s where my parents live...or lived.”

  Cale looked at her. She had tears beginning to well up. Her black hair was matted down because of the seawater. She had her arms crossed in a relaxed manner. Grey looked cold and vulnerable. Despite her obvious sadness, he envied her. She was literally only a few hours from home…from finding out if her family was okay or not.

  “Then we’ll go that way,” Curtis ordered. “Lay low for a couple of days then make a go for the airstrip.”

  Grey’s expression didn’t change.

  “Let’s form up into a wedge and move through tactically. Cale,” he added. “I want you to take point since you have a rifle now. We’ll be heading northwest.”

  “Roger. But it isn’t zeroed,” Cale added.

  “Do what you can. Ballard you’ll be in position two,” he ordered.

  “Roger,” acknowledged Ballard.

  “Grey and Huffman at three and four,” continued Curtis. “And Ashley in position five, next to me.”

  “Roger,” Grey replied as the other two just nodded.

  Cale stepped out toward the front. Ballard and Grey fell in about five paces behind him forming a “V” shape. Huffman stood in five paces away from Ballard. Curtis helped Ashley up and moved to the center of the “V” a few paces behind Cale. Ashley hobbled as she used SSG Curtis as a crutch.

  “Go ahead and move when you’re ready,” Curtis said to Cale.

  Cale nodded and moved out toward the west. He had Zach’s knife sheathed and his rifle ready. Cautiously he crept through the trees looking for movement. Behind him, the rest of the squad followed each scanning their sectors. Cale led them up the hill.

  “Slow up,” Curtis told him. “Not everyone is in the same shape as you.”

  “Roger,” Cale whispered back.

  At the top of the hill, they had an amazing view of the preserve. Rolling hills of multicolored trees greeted them. Flocks of birds flew toward the south in the light blue sky. A breeze rolled up the hill and hit them.

  “Fuck it’s cold,” Ballard said behind him.

  “Yeah it is,” replied Cale.

  “Get back into cover,” Curtis ordered. “I don’t want a UAV spotting us.”

  “Okay,” Cale said as he moved down the other side of the hill.

  Birds chirped and called all through the trees. They almost drown out the sound of the dead’s moaning.

  “Why are there so many of them out here?” Huffman asked.

  “It’s the wildlife,” Zach said as he walked out from behind a tree. “They’re looking for food.”

  “Who knows,” said Ballard.

  Cale was startled by the sound of his own voice. “It’s the wildlife. They’re looking for food.”

  “That certainly makes sense,” Grey replied.

  “Cut the chatter,” Curtis hissed. “I don’t want them following us because you guys couldn’t be quiet.”

  The squad fell silent. Cautiously, Cale led them through. The forest floor was carpeted with leaves. They were buried up to their shins in the dead foliage. Each move caused a tidal wave of noise. The hill inclined and became steeper as they continued. Cale leaned back and slid most of the way down on the leaves. The squad behind him followed suit. At the bottom, he halted the group. The plant life here wasn’t as thick and compact. Many of the undead wandered back and forth, unaware of the meal that just showed up.

  “Holy fuck,” Cale exclaimed.

  “Just stay spread out. Don’t let them crowd you,” ordered Curtis. “Try to avoid engaging them.”

  “Roger,” the squad all whispered.

  Cale gestured for them to follow and the squad moved through the gaps in the herd of undead. The first infected to notice them moaned loudly, alerting its compatriots to the squad’s presence. Behind them, an undead fell down the steep slope and impacted into a pile of leaves.

  “Just move!” Curtis shouted as he helped Ashley along.

  In the heat of the moment, it didn’t take long for their formation to collapse and soon they were bunched up behind Cale.

  “Fuck,” he said as he lowered the rifle and pulled out his knife. “This way!”

  Cale stabbed into the eye socket of the infected in front of him. The group pushed through the hole Cale had made, killing any undead that converged on them. They could only move as fast as their slowest member, Ashley.

  “You’re going to have to leave her behind,” Zach informed him.

  “Shut up,” Cale whispered.

  Slowly they progressed forward only to be slammed with another wave of undead. Two of them shambled toward Cale from opposite directions. He turned and dealt with the one to his right. Ballard stepped up and took care of the one to the left. The others pushed the new wave back. Ashley yelped in pain as she tried to put more weight on her injured ankle. Yet another wave approached them.

  “She’s slowing you down,” Zach urged.

  “Fuck it,” said Cale. “We’ll have to carry her.”

  “Agreed,” Curtis replied.

  He lowered himself, placing his shoulder into her belly then scooped her up. After looping his arm behind her leg and grabbing her wrist, he now had her in a fireman’s carry.

  “Get moving! Go!” he ordered.

  Cale holstered his knife and readied his rifle. He switched the selector to “Semi” and engaged the targets closest to him. Cale relied mostly on hip fire. The metal bolt slammed forward in quick succession and three casings ejected from the weapon. This was the only indication that he’d fired because of the suppressor masking the sound. With slight adjustments, he was able to compensate for the weapon’s trajectory. He moved forward at a faster pace and the squad followed through the hole he’d made. They continued until the bolt in Cale’s rifle locked to th
e rear.

  “Ballard cover me!” he shouted. “I’m reloading!”

  “Roger!” he yelled back as he stepped up to defend Cale from anything that approached.

  Thick goo erupted when he removed his tomahawk from the creature’s skull. Even as he replaced the magazine in the weapon, they moved forward. Cale was ready in a matter of seconds. They worked together and thinned out enough of the undead to move faster.

  “Cale,” Curtis shouted. “Conserve that ammunition! We don’t know if we’ll need it later!”

  Cale lowered the rifle in compliance and retrieved his knife. One after another, the members bounded forward killing the infected. At the center of the group, Curtis carried Ashley.

  “Only focus on the ones in our way!” Cale shouted to Huffman who’d wandered off.

  She turned and realized how far away she’d strayed, but before she could make her return one of them fell on her. Together they fell to the ground and leaves sprayed up.

  “Ballard!” Cale shouted. “Go help her!”

  Ballard had already begun to assist before Cale even began the order. He hadn’t even reached her when two marines came out of nowhere and pulled the creature off her. Together they pulled her up and pushed her toward the squad. Neither of them was armed and both of them were soaked. They were survivors from the crash. Cale recognized them from the preflight demonstration. They’d been the ones to joke about the plane going down. Huffman didn’t appear injured and the group couldn’t hide their surprise at the two men’s entrance.

  “Keep moving!” Curtis shouted.

  Without question or objection the two of them joined the squad and helped push forward. One of them was cradling his arm. The addition of two more members allowed them to push through and establish breathing room. They stayed together as they discovered a stream. Its current was strong as it rushed to the south. Cale looked back to SSG Curtis for orders.

  “Cross it,” he said.

  Cale proceeded to enter the stream. He could see fish swim away at his presence. The cold water batted at his legs.

  “Damn it. I was just starting to get dry,” he whispered.

  He raised his rifle to avoid getting it wet. Cale walked until he hit a drop off. He gasped when the water level suddenly came up to his chest. The low temperature caused him to breathe more rapidly.

  “Ea-easy here,” he said between gasps. “It’s deeper than it looks.”

  The current threatened to take him with it, but he fought its pull and crossed to the other bank. He posted on the other side as the rest of the squad crossed. This side was free of the infected, as far as he could see at least. The infected that followed them emerged and continued their pursuit through the stream as Curtis with the assistance of one of the marines carried Ashley over. The undead made it to the drop off but then succumbed to the force of the current.

  “Suck it bitches,” the marine with the injured arm laughed as he watched their pursuers swept away.

  “Stow it,” Curtis ordered. “Take two minutes to recover. Then we’re pushing on.”

  “Where are we headed?” one of the marines asked. “Because the airbase is that way,” he pointed to the north.

  “We know,” informed Curtis. “We have Intel that QRF will be searching for us and that the UAVs are equipped with thermal.”

  “Intel?” the injured marine scoffed. “Where the fuck did you guys get Intel?”

  “I had a chat with a member of the QRF.” Cale stated.

  “Is that where you got the rifle?” the marine asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “So you just spoke with them and they sent you off with a rifle?” the injured one asked.

  “Something like that.” Cale laughed at his stupidity.

  “What the fuck happened to your face?” the marine retorted.

  “Camouflage,” he gestured to his face.

  “Why don’t you hand the rifle over?” the marine asked.

  Cale just laughed and went back to scanning the surrounding area for hostiles.

  “There is no deadlier force than a marine and his rifle,” the marine replied sternly.

  Cale looked at him. He’d clearly offended the marine by laughing. He thought he’ been joking.

  “No,” Cale said flatly.

  The marine’s posture changed and he took a step toward Cale as if he were going to take the weapon.

  “At ease!” Curtis shouted. “What are your names?”

  The marine halted when Staff Sergeant Curtis raised his voice.

  “Bailey,” the injured marine answered.

  “Tomes,” the other replied.

  “It’s, staff sergeant,” Curtis addressed the entire group. “I’ve been letting it slide given the morning we’ve all been having. But all of you need to remember who has rank here. Now I hate pulling rank, but don’t give me a reason to, Roger?”

  “Roger, staff sergeant,” the entire group answered.

  He wasn’t wrong. Cale looked around and realized that he and Staff Sergeant Curtis were the only non commissioned officers left. Everyone else was E-4 or below.

  “The sergeant here is my second,” he gestured to Cale. “Be sure to render the proper respect when you address him,” he stared down Tomes.

  “Roger, sergeant,” Tomes replied.

  “How much further Grey?” asked Curtis.

  “I’m not sure, staff sergeant,” Grey confessed.

  “Okay,” Curtis turned to Cale. “Go ahead and lead us out, sergeant. We have a lot of ground to cover.”

  “Roger, staff sergeant,” confirmed Cale.

  Curtis motioned Tomes to help him assist Ashley with walking. Now that the pressure was off, they could freely move up the next hill and through the forest. In silence, they hiked for what seemed like hours. The sun was beginning to hang low in the west. Fatigue was beginning to set in.

  “Sergeant,” Cale broke the silence. “I don’t think we’ll make it before dark.”

  Curtis knew he was right. Ashley’s injury had slowed them down considerably. He estimated that they’d maybe only come about six maybe seven miles. And that was being generous.

  “Let’s just get to the top of this hill,” offered Curtis.

  Cale followed his superior’s order and continued. Behind him, Curtis considered his options. They could set up camp for the night. Maybe take turns on a guard rotation. But that would still leave them exposed to the UAV. Even with cover from the trees, it was possible they could get spotted. It was October and the temperature was sure to drop rapidly during the night. Possibly below freezing even. He was still mid thought when Cale halted the squad.

  “What is it?” Curtis whispered.

  Cale pointed up ahead. Curtis moved up to see what he was pointing at. It was a pickup truck. It was stopped in a way that it pinned a still active infected against a tree.

  “What the fuck?” he whispered.

  “Don’t know, staff sergeant,” answered Cale. “But that could be just what we need.”

  “Stay here,” Curtis told the rest of them. “Come on, sergeant; let’s go in for a closer look.”

  Cale took point as they moved up, approaching from the passenger side. The creature thrashed about, striking the hood of the blue Ford pickup. It had been brand new. Top of the line. From the current state, they could determine it had been here for a long time. The hood was dented and bits of flesh from its arms had been deposited. Neither of them could tell if it were a man or a woman. Wild animals had picked chunks of flesh from its face and scalp. Dried glossy eyes peered out from the leathery mass that had once been its face. It wore an odd uniform. It looked like a dark blue jump suit. The sleeves had degraded along with the tissue on the creature’s arms.

  Curtis used his knife to put the thing to rest. After removing his blade from what was left of the creature’s auditory canal, he wiped it on his pants to clean it.

  “Keys are still in it,” Cale informed him.

  “Good. Check to see if it will start,�
� ordered Curtis.

  Cale opened the passenger door and reached across to turn the key. Nothing happened.

  “God damn it,” he cursed. “Fucking battery is probably dead.”

  “Shit,” Curtis threw his head back to look at the sky.

  Up the trunk of the tree, something caught his eye. It wasn’t natural. A human had to have placed it there.

  “Cale look,” he said.

  Cale looked up. It took a moment to register what he was looking at. But once he’d identified it, fear rushed into his mind.

  “Oh fuck,” Cale whispered.

  “What?” confused, Curtis asked.

  Curtis hadn’t figured out what it was.

  “It’s a camera and a PA speaker,” Cale informed him.

  “Shit,” Curtis now understood what this could mean.

  Someone could be watching them right now. It could be anyone. Even the military, which is what scared them both the most. Cale looked around at the other trees. There were cameras on quite a few of them.

  “We need to leave,” recommended Curtis.

  Cale didn’t argue. He turned to follow his superior until he had an epiphany.

  “Wait a second,” Cale said as he turned around.

  “What are you doing?” asked Curtis. “Let’s go.”

  “Just wait,” explained Cale. “Look.”

  He pointed up at the other cameras.

  “At what?”

  “They’re all orientated toward the same point,” he observed.

  “They are...” Curtis trailed off. “But why?”

  Cale approached the center of their perimeter and the focal point. Leaves were scattered all around. He stumbled when his foot caught something solid hidden within the pile. Curtis helped him up out of the leaves.

  “What the fuck was that?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” answered Cale.

  Together they cleared the leaves off the object. It was a large metal door. The two of them just stared at it. Cale decided he’d try and open it.

  “Wait,” said Curtis. “I’ll do it. You cover me.”

  “Okay,” replied Cale as he readied the rifle.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  Cale nodded.

  “Okay. One-two-three,” he threw the door open.

  It revealed a stairwell into the ground. Down at the bottom was a landing and another door.