by Aline Riva
Deserted with the Dead
Book Four: Freezepoint
By
Aline Riva
and
Nathan Ward
Deserted with the Dead Book 4 Freezepoint by Aline Riva and Nathan Ward
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
A Kindle Original 2017
Copyright © Aline Riva and Nathan Ward 2017
Cover Design Copyright © Nathan David Ward 2017
The Author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
All rights reserved. No part of this publication be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Deserted with the Dead
Book Four: Freezepoint
By
Aline Riva
and
Nathan Ward
Introduction:
After the journey by sea then land, the military convoy, part battle scarred from clashes along the way yet still firm in its resolution to carry out the plan, had arrived at the base known as Earth-40. The place was much like the underwater base in its layout, except here it was below ground, in the middle of a stark wilderness of open fields with tall grass, surrounded on its borders by woodland.
If the dead they had encountered on the road still lurked, they did not lurk close by – the base was miles away from the nearest town or village, and the perfect place for David and Tara and the rest of the group to rest and take a much needed break from the horrors above on the surface, here it was dark and peaceful save for the bright electrical lighting that lit the way, the heating kept away the chill of being so far underground and if any one of them missed sunlight, they only had to recall that life above ground came with taking their chances with wandering hordes, and it was enough, just be thankful for this refuge.
While they rested, the military side of the team began to make plans. In a short while they would be embarking on a journey that would take the strongest team they could gather to Antarctica, to test two theories – the first being that Justin Frazer, or what was left of him, was capable of commanding the dead as leader. The other experiment was to use the new gas developed at the undersea research base, the one that was hoped would deactivate the live part of the virus, what scientists called the reanimation trigger...
It was all a great big risk. Lives were at stake and no one knew, not even the scientists could predict, exactly what the team would come up against out in the frozen wastes of the Arctic...
Underground Base Earth-40, David Harley:
'We spent three weeks under the water, then another ten days on the road. We've been at the underground base for a month now. I don't want to go back to the Arctic but it is the only way. I know what Lauren saw through the window as we took the plane away from that place, heading for Chile terrified for our lives, so many we knew left behind, victims of the undead...
Justin had been on that hilltop, reaching out for the dead to follow. It makes the theory ring true that mutations at freezing point temperatures could well have made his mutations a little different to the others. It had to be one of us, why not him? I don't even want to think about what's left of the guy who used to be my student. Probably nothing, the virus had probably crawled its way through his body and wiped out all that I ever knew and associated with the human called Justin Frazer.
It's going to be a hard battle. We're all up against the unknown. Even the military personnel coming with us don't know what to expect – none of us do.
We could find an ally in Justin who can end this war, or we could find the worst of enemies, something that goes beyond the worst of our nightmares.
Many of us won't be coming back. I think we all know that, there's a mood that hangs over the base, like every person on that mission knows it's deadly, knows there's a finality about it, too – if we succeed, we take a large step towards defeating the undead on a global level. If we fail? Well, that's the end, I guess... the end of all of us...'
Chapter 1: Fragile Friendships
The corridor was brightly lit and after a month at the underground facility, David knew the place well. He turned a corner and then headed up another corridor, where all was identical save for door numbers. Now he had reached his destination he paused, taking a moment to collect his thoughts:
He was about to enter the most comfortable living quarters on the base, kindly given to Rick and Lois by Captain Swan, who on arrival had called together the underground personnel to remind them that she was in charge around here, this was still a military operation, but under the circumstances that amounted to apocalyptic level, those who wished to leave were free to do so. All had chosen to remain. The military presence was strong here, with base personnel plus her team who had travelled from the underwater research facility.
Captain Swan had been swift in pulling the group together, and after necessary duties were done, she had told Lois to take this suite, because Rick needed somewhere comfortable to continue his recovery.
That had been a month ago. Rick was very well – on the surface – he had seemingly bounced back from the surgery to repair the terrible damage caused by the fight with Mortiz, he had been determined to recover in rapid time, too. But in truth, his recovery would take months – even then, after the injury he had sustained, it would never be wise for him to risk his life in a combat situation again. He had been told that, but still said he was looking forward to seeing the Arctic with the rest of the team.
Now after a meeting had been called with Captain Swan and key members of the team including his own people, decisions had been made – and suggestions, raising a possibility he was sure would be met with hostility. Tara had offered to speak to him. David had said no. This was his task alone, he had always led the group and he wanted to be the one to break the news, even though all he had to say was nothing Rick Lester wanted to hear...
David knocked on the door.
“It's open!” Rick called out.
David walked into the room and closed the door behind him, pausing to take in the sight of the leather sofas and the TV that stood dark from the days before the outbreak, a large rug covered most of the floor and there was a table and chairs, an area leading to a kitchen and through another doorway, a curtain divided off the bedroom area. In many ways this room reminded Rick of the days when he had been known as the Mall King...
“David!” he said warmly, “Take a seat, tell me what I've been missing!”
He went over to an arm chair and sat down, looking across a coffee table at Rick, who was lazing on that sofa in dark jeans that hugged his slender hips, his shirt was open and he looked very much like he was reliving his days of running the Fountain Plaza. His metallic hand was back on, he had only been wearing it for a week because the fractures were still finishing the healing process, but he seemed in no discomfort and he looked to David and his hazel eyes sparkled with warmth.
“I would join the rest of you but I'm making the most of this place before we have to leave for the Arctic.”
“Rick -”
“And I said to Lois, don't worry about me, I'm healed up, I'm okay, I haven't had the chance to use those blades I made for myself – my battle hand. It needs to see some action!
“Rick – will you listen, please?” David said, cutting in for a second time as he met the gaze of his close friend.
“What?” R
ick asked.
David gave a sigh.
“It's been just over a month -”
“It's been seven weeks since the surgery. I'm okay. I'm going to the Arctic.”
Rick had spoken firmly, the warmth fading from his tone as David felt sure this conversation would not end well.
“You were treated for two serious injuries, both of them head injuries and you're not fully recovered yet. You'd get yourself killed, and where would that leave Lois and Flossie?”
Temper flared in Rick's eyes as he glared at him defiantly.
“I've managed to stay alive so far, why should I be excluded from this mission just because I got injured? I'm still here, I'm okay!”
David looked at him. Rick was recovering well, but he still looked a little fragile despite the strength of his words. His hair was slowly growing back but not yet long enough to hide the surgical scar that was etched into his head, for a slender athletic guy he had certainly lost a few pounds too, he had come close to death after the fight with Mortiz and that fact seemed lost on him, much like many things were lost on him these days due to his damaged memory, a legacy of the injury he had survived. It could have been so much worse for Rick, but all that had happened was brushed aside in an instant as he sat here barely recovered from the surgery and spoke up again.
“You think I don't have what it takes any more? That's nice, coming from a friend! Fuck you, David! I'm going to the Arctic, I'm not letting the team down!”
David let his angry outburst pass him by – Rick's moods had been a little up and down since the operation, it would take a while for him to physically recover and even longer to get over the fact that he had finally achieved the only sense of justice he could in light of the mall massacre – killing Mortiz had been a hollow victory, he would always mourn the loss of those people at the Fountain Plaza who had looked up to him as their leader.
“Your metallic hand won't function in cold temperatures," he reminded him, “And I really don't think you could adequately arm yourself without it for the level of protection we will need to use in Antarctica. Plus the cold temperatures could cause you other problems, mainly pain, given the fact that you've recently had surgery. I'm not saying you can't go because I don't believe you can fight, I'm saying no because if you do fight, you''ll die or become a liability to all of us - and that should make sense to you.”
Rick fell silent for a moment as he looked through to the bedroom, where he heard Lois speaking to Flossie and Flossie did her giggle growl, then he shook his head.
“This could be the deciding battle that sees humanity take back what's ours! You're denying me a place in history?”
David looked at him in surprise.
“Since when was this about wanting a place in history, Rick?”
“It's not...I just want to be there for the big one, the fight that decides everything one way or another. I've come so far I don't want to be left behind!”
As he looked at him pleadingly, David's heart ached for his friend. Then he recalled the other matter he had to raise, and that heart ache grew deeper as beyond this room, Flossie did her animal-laugh sound again.
“We were discussing the idea of taking a pride of mutant lions to the Arctic,” David began cautiously.
Rick was listening, the anger was gone from his eyes but he still wore that determined expression to be on this mission even if it killed him.
“Why tell me if I'm not going?” he asked.
“Because...” David paused, hating himself for not throwing the idea out as soon as the Captain had suggested it at the meeting, “Because Flossie can communicate with mutant animals. She can also track the undead. Look how she led the animals to the enclosure back at Fearland! She could do it again, in the Arctic.”
Rick had been reclining lazily over the length of the sofa until he had taken in that least statement. Then he swung his legs off the sofa and sat up, meeting David's gaze with a look that was pure anger.
“She's a child!”
“A mutant child! She can handle the cold, she can help us find Justin and his army -”
“She's our child,” Rick replied, “Mine and Lois - not by birth but certainly by choice. And yes, I know she can handle the temperatures, she can help track the undead too - but she's a child. That's a kid you're talking about. She's a B Virus infected kid who will be the first to have the antidote when it's perfected by Carrie's research team! In other words, she has a chance. I won't let you take that away from her.”
“I'd take care of her myself,” David promised, “She saved us all, she sent the animals to the enclosure – I haven't forgotten that!”
Then the curtain was shifted back as Lois entered the room, Flossie following on. As she spotted David her grey face broke into a smile and she ran over to him, set down her empty icky stick on the table and turned back as Lois said her name.
“I've been teaching her,” she said, “Watch this, David.”
And David looked on silently as Lois spoke carefully to Flossie.
“What can you say?" she asked her, “Show Daddy what you can do...”
“Oh please!” David exclaimed, “She's mimicking you -”
“Just watch!” Lois insisted.
Then she addressed Flossie carefully.
“Say to Rick what you said to me.”
Flossie fixed her dark eyes on him, then pointed to herself, then made the shape of a heart with her hands, and pointed to him. Rick's eyes misted up with tears.
“You clever girl!” he said warmly, “Come here, sweetheart! I love you too!”
Flossie ran to his open arms, then just stood there and he hugged her, looking back at her icky stick like she feared someone might have taken it in her absence.
As he held her Rick glared at David.
“She's not going to the Arctic,” he said protectively, “No way. You'll have to kill me first.”
“Arctic?” Lois said, looking to Rick then David, “What's this about? You can't take Flossie – it's too dangerous -”
“And on that note I'll leave you to enjoy your day, I can see I'm getting nowhere,” David said quickly, rising for his seat and making for the door. As he left the room he shut the door behind him and then walked up the corridor, as he considered how crazy it seemed that Rick and Lois had both lost sight of the potential Flossie had for helping with the Arctic mission. It seemed everything he said was brushed aside – Rick and Lois had stopped remembering her mutant potential, choosing instead to see her as simply a child...They were wrong, Flossie was so much more than that, she was capable of becoming a key member of the team, the mission would be lacking without her, but neither Lois or Rick were prepared to accept that as they stayed in their comfortable surroundings, locked away from the hell of reality, playing happy families with a mutant child who had the ability to help to win the war – if only they would realise that fact...
By the time David had gone down a floor by stairs, passed the weapons bay and glanced towards the powerful guns that were stacked ready for departure when the date was set, resentment was kicking in as he thought of Rick, living a life of comfort and luxury and not even appreciating the fact. Then he cast his mind back to how close his friend had come to death after his battle with Mortiz and all anger swiftly faded out as he considered all that had happened:
Why shouldn't Rick be happy? Everyone had lost those they loved since the undead had risen and destroyed what used to be called normal life, but few had lost as much as Rick – the lives of those lost at the mall would always weigh heavy with him, as well as recalling those he had cared about who had perished at the start. He had tracked down the man responsible for the massacre and ended it once and for all, his way, taking the life of Mortiz, but paying a price in return with the terrible injuries he had suffered. David still felt sharp pain in his heart when the thought back to those dark days when his close friend had hoovered between life and death – that time had made him think about his own situation, and made him rethink his o
wn plans, too...
With that thought in mind, David returned to his room, to find Tara sat on the bed, writing in a note book.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he sat down on a chair next to a small table and met her gaze as she looked up – this room was little more than a cell, basic like much of the accommodation at the base, but he wasn't about to complain, it was better than some of the places they had been forced to stay during their time on the raid before the rescue from Fearland...
“I'm keeping a diary,” she replied, “I've been writing down my thoughts since we arrived. I feel I need to do this because everything is about to change. I just hope when it does, its for the better.”
“Well so far it's a no ,” he told her, “They won't part with Flossie. But I haven't given up on the idea – Captain Swan is all for it. She thinks the girl would be crucial to tracking down Justin's army. I think so too. I'd protect her, Tara. I wouldn't let her come to harm, I know how much Rick and Lois love her.”
Tara stopped writing, folded shut the note book and put down the pen.
“It's harder for them because Rick can't go with her,” she pointed out.
“And he won't be going, no matter how much he wants to!” David said firmly, “If he goes to the Arctic, he won't be coming back. He's not fully recovered, he can't cope with the environment or another battle of any kind.”
“And that is why he won't part with Flossie,” she told him, “So maybe there's a compromise somewhere?”
He caught the thoughtful look in her eyes, but it was lost on him as he thought about a difficult decision of his own that had been made in the days after Rick had been injured in the battle with Mortiz.
“I'm taking off for a few days,” he said to her, “Alone. I've cleared it with Captain Swan and I'm heading off to find my ex wife and my son. It's a journey of around forty miles from here – I just need to know they're okay, or at least find some kind of sign that gives me hope that they made it.”
