“Cooper said to give it a minute before you head back,” he told Muller and Nobuto.
“Yeah,” Muller said taking yet another shot, “We might have to move back sooner, there are too many.”
They started to make their way back right then, slowly backing up towards the helicopter, as the infected crowded towards them. Kenji saw Kinders run out of the helicopter and over to the truck. Kinders duck and dodged many of the infected that surrounded the area, until he reached the switch. Once he was there, he stopped his momentum, and all the infected he had dodged on his way there were now turning around to continue chasing him.
Kenji knew there was no way he had time to warn or save him and could only watch as the infected swarmed him. He tried pushed his way through, but several infected grabbed him and tore into him. He shoved them off him and shoved his way out of the group of infected. Kinders quickly went to the hose and unclamped it from the helicopter, before collapsing on the ground.
Kenji sprinted over to where he lay, “Why did you do that?!”
Through choked breaths, Kinders replied, “Someone had to stop the fuel and unhook it…”
“You are infected now! We can’t bring you with us," Kenji said.
"I know. Go, just make sure everyone else makes it out," Kinders replied weakly.
Kenji walked away looking back at Kinders; the infected were close; he pulled out his sidearm and took a few poorly aimed shots before stopping and putting the gun to his temple. Kenji looked away as a gunshot rang out. Someone tapped him on the shoulder; it was Ramirez mentioning to get inside.
✽ ✽ ✽
Muller and Nobuto took a couple of steps back every time Muller made two shots. They were only ten feet away when Muller heard the high pitch whining that developed into a high pitch squeal, and then finally changed into a thunderous roar as the blades came to life. The helicopter was ready to take off and not a moment too soon; Muller only had six shots left.
Muller turned around, "Chopper is ready, let's go!"
Nobuto followed him as they climbed up the ramp and looked inside to see if everyone had made it in. Ren, Kenji, and Ramirez all stood inside looking out the windows at the approaching horde. Cooper was in the cockpit, and Nobuto was in right behind Muller.
"Kinders?" Muller asked.
Kenji just shook his head.
Everyone was on board; Cooper closed the ramp, waiting until it was almost closed before turning his attention back to the cockpit. He pushed the pedal to raise them up, and they slowly lifted off the ground, the torrent of wind forced many of the infected away from them. They all watched as the infected army below them got smaller and smaller.
They could see the entire base; then they could see the town they had passed through the day before, small trails of smoke coming from fires that were still burning. They could see the sea behind them, they headed west, hoping to find US Navy in the Sea of Japan. Cooper pushed forward on the controls, and they watched as the land underneath them became unfamiliar to them.
Kenji looked out the porthole window; it was only a small glimpse of the nation that once was. He knew that he would never come back, but he also knew that he would never want to go back. Looking out at what was left, he knew there was nothing.
Nobuto turned and looked at Kenji, “Look at it out there. I wonder what remains.”
No one answered him, they all knew the answer. All of them wanted to move on, ready for a hopeful new beginning. Forgetting the sins of the past, remembering those they left behind. It was now time for grief and excitement.
Grime covered, sweaty, and tired was the consensus, but they were alive. Not only were they alive, but they had finally got the freedom from the infected lands below them. Kenji smiled with the rest of them, happy to be free, knowing they had passed through hell and lived. He lay his head back against the hard metal interior of the helicopter, Kenji felt the burden of countless hours of sleep he had deprived himself of finally catch up. Within minutes, he let his eyes close knowing that he was safe.
Epilogue
The night had been a dull one. They had been told to keep watch for anyone calling for help and to report it immediately and treat all calls as biohazard threats. He didn't know what that meant; in his five years in the Navy, he had yet to deal with any hazardous materials. The only calls he had gotten so far were just relays of their new course, changes from the flagship.
He was bored out of his mind and had started on his second cup of coffee to keep himself awake. He was just about to get up when he heard a faint voice and crackling. He waited and listened intently, after waiting and almost giving up he heard it again, this time, a little more clearly.
"This is... airmen...calling out...need assistance..."
He jumped into action, "This is the USS America, please say again."
A few moments later the radio crackled to life again, “This is senior airman Cooper; calling for any and all assistance."
"Airman Cooper, I read you loud and clear, what assistance can I provide you?"
"We are leaving the quarantine zone, I have survivors, and we are starting to run low on fuel. We request to land."
"Request acknowledged. Give me a minute to get you clearance."
He moved his headset aside and picked up a phone next to him; it was a direct line to the captain. It rang twice before the captain answered, "Sir, I think it's them. The ones they said might call. One of them is claiming to be Senior Airman Cooper."
The captain breathed into the phone before responding, “Give them clearance, but ready a team to meet them. Full alert on deck, call med bay and tell them to get a quarantine area ready. No one talks to them until I do."
"Understood, sir!" He said hanging up the phone.
He turned his attention back to the radio, "Cooper, you have clearance to land."
A sigh of relief was heard from the other side of the radio, "Thank god. We've been through hell."
He told them where the ships are heading, then called the med bay to tell them to ready quarantine. It looked like his boring night had just come to an end. Half an hour later a helicopter hovered above the deck, before finally landing. A team of fully armed marines rushed forward to meet the occupants inside. The Marines raised their guns as the helicopter's ramp lowered, six individuals came out, hands raised.
The Marines quickly detained each one, tying their hands behind their backs. He noticed the Marines had on gas masks as well, which made it that much more real. The captain quickly walked out onto the deck and talked to one of the detained men, before pointing back to the ship's tower. The Marines rapidly led them towards the tower, and that was the last that he saw of them.
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What Remains (Book 1): The Outbreak Page 36
