For A Few Corpses More - Pt. 14

“Pierce,” Nyx called out.

“Leave him,” Dine replied. “He’s not moving.”

It was a shock to Pierce, but perhaps more so to Dine that the two ghouls that looked so hungry for his partner’s flesh had paused and were now lunging at him. Dine shot the first one and spun the gun around, striking the second across the forehead with the long barrels of the gun. The heat from the weapon that had been consistently firing seared the dead flesh of the stocky ghoul, it hissed.

“Come on,” Nyx said as she pulled on Pierce’s shoulder.

Pierce was just amazed he was alive, not sure what had just happened. He was almost in shock but he felt his legs move even though eh wasn’t telling them what to do. He barely had time to grab the gas can, but it was a part of the plan to safety, there was still a chance, he could still have time to plan a way back home, to his money.

Bronson used the last round in his .45. The body of the female ghoul fell limply in front of him with a choking sound still coming from her throat. He yelled at them to come, pushing through. He thought Nyx was right behind him until he turned and saw that she had gone back for Pierce. Dine was still firing; he’d be out at any moment though. Bronson didn’t think. He just reacted. With no bullets in his gun he leapt back into the fray, sheathing his gun and reaching for his machete.

“Hurry,” he yelled, getting between his people and the walkers.

He swung wildly with his blade, teeth clenched. He was giving them time to get away now that the path was clear. He wasn’t sure what this distraction would cost him though, but he had a job to do. Bronson had promised that he’d keep them safe. That’s why he had risked getting this close. Nyx was helping Pierce get clear. Dine was out of bullets now. There was no help for him. He would have be the one to help them.

The machete caught one on the neck. He pulled it out quickly as the ghoul fell backwards knowing the blade being stuck for a second too long would cost him his life. Bronson kicked one away with his boot, square to the chest of a dead man with a red beard and yellow teeth. He took the chance, glancing over his shoulder at the others. They were almost clear, but he needed to make sure.

He turned back with a strong swing. The machete whiffed though, missing the ghoul as he stepped back. They were all stepping back. Bronson swung again in a wide sweeping arch, another step back and a hiss or three. This made no sense. Ghouls weren’t afraid of a blade, they weren’t afraid of anything. Their retreat picked up pace and Bronson let the blade fall to his side, his hand still wrapped tightly around the handle.

“Bronson,” Nyx called out. “Move! Let’s go!”

Dine had stopped too though. He saw what Bronson was seeing and paused. Looking around, the captain thought there had to be something else going on.

Bronson sheathed the machete and pulled his rifle from his shoulder. He wrapped the leather strap around his hand and pulled the weapon up to his shoulder, looking through the scope.

“What are you waiting on,” Nyx yelled back to him.

Bronson knew what he was looking for and there were only a few spots it could be. His target would want a good view of what was happening. He scanned the rooftops until he saw him atop on older brick building with shattered windows.

The ghoul on the other end of his scope was tall and lanky, dressed in a grey business suit with black and white tennis shoes on. One hand held a match and a singular cigarette, the other was in his pocket. His round sunk-in eyes were almost bright yellow bulbs, looking down at Bronson with a peculiar rictus.

Bronson wasted no time. His hand tightened with the strap wrapped around it, pushing strength into his arm to make sure his sights were level, right between the eyes. He squeezed the trigger exactly how he had been taught. A perfect shot had the ghoul not stood up in front of his target. The bullet flew without falter, puncturing the bald zombie that had stood up in front of Marcus, his target, right between the eyes.

With eyes rolled further back, trying to see where it had been shot, the bald undead started to fall. As it did, Marcus reached forward and struck his match off of back bald surface of the ghoul minion’s head. The match burst into life as Marcus turned away. He took several steps to make sure Bronson wouldn’t have another shot before lighting his cigarette and exhaling a ring of smoke.

“This will work, this will work nicely.”

Dine kicked the tire of one of the eighteen wheelers hard. The entire truck gave a small shake in response. His gun was next. The M18 variant was out of bullets, all three clips depleted. With their extra ammunition at the bottom of the ocean—drug off who knew how far by the tide now—the gun might as well have been a paperweight. His homerun swing against the back of the old wooden telephone pole bent the barrel. Bronson wondered if Dine had been using his full strength would it still be standing.

“What the ever-living-fuck!” He stuttered something inaudible out and slung the now even more useless assault rifle towards the gas station building. “What was that!?”

“That was messed up,” Nyx said under her breath, leaning against the SUV and sliding down into the shade it had created. It was the only thing that she was sure Dine wouldn’t hit in his rage.

“I almost died…I,” Pierce was mumbling next to her.

Nyx shook her head and decided it was a good opportunity to check her own ammunition situation—half a clip.

“You saved my life back there. They were going to leave me.”

“Dine was going to leave you,” Nyx corrected him in a soft voice. She exhaled; the excitement and scary nature of what all just happened creeping in. Bronson had always told her: feel and worry after it’s over, until then react.

“No I mean it,” Pierce nodded. “I owe you. I’ve got a lot of credits coming in off of this job, I’ll take you out, buy you something nice.” He nodded with a half smile.

Nyx just shook her head and looked at Bronson who had been waiting for Dine to finish his emotional tantrum. She could tell he was worried too, he wouldn’t show it though, it wouldn’t be truly over for him until they were all back in Elysium City. He was stoic right now though with the brim of his large black hat pulled down slightly and his arms folded across his chest. Most important though, she knew he was thinking, so whatever that was back there he would be ready for next time.

“Don’t you have any answers,” Dine asked finally turning to Bronson. “Aren’t you supposed to be my expert!?”

“Sure, they’re smart ghouls.”

“That makes no sense,” Dine was quick to shoot back, as if he had known Bronson’s answer before he even said it. “They’re dead! Our scientists have proven that they don’t think on almost any level past instinctual motor skills anymore.”

“Fine,” Bronson said unfolding his arms with an open gesture. “Let’s hear your answer then.”

Dine opened his mouth to say something but he paused. He thought about what he was going to say and rational thinking kicked in. Instead he kicked the dirt out of frustration and turned his back to the group.

“Those things back there hid from us; let us walk into the center of their home and ambushed us, and did a pretty damn good job I’d have to say. They took Pierce’s gun and tried to take yours, seeing you two and your automatic weapons as the biggest threat. All that, and last night when that one attacked Pierce it could have attacked us all while most of us were asleep but I’m guessing it saw we had a sentry at all points of the night. So, it did something I have never seen or heard of in my life; a ghoul quietly snuck into our vehicle and hid until someone opened the hatch on the back of the SUV, laying in wait,” Bronson gave a moment to let that sink in before continuing. “And frankly Captain, that shouldn’t even be the least of your worries.”

“And why is that,” Dine asked without turning to face them.

“I’d be more concerned with the fact that a mob of hungry walkers that could have overtaken us in seconds let us walk out of there alive and backed away. Sure, one of us could have probably made it out while the ghouls dealt with the other three but we all got out. They stepped right over Pierce and backed down from me when all I had was a machete and a prayer.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying something told them to let us go, something, someone, or some collective thought made them realize that there was more at stake then tonight’s meal on the table.”

Dine did finally swing back around at this point. He looked over his shoulder at Bronson with an eyebrow raised.

“You’re telling me that those things are aware enough that they might know we’re after the Vita Nova?”

“No,” Bronson said clearly. “I think they were aware enough to know that we didn’t belong there and something might be up. Maybe we piqued their interest or something. This is all new territory for me, for all of us.”

“This isn’t possible, Bronson.”

“You’re the one with access to all of the government files, Captain. Maybe there was more going on at this Air Force Base you have us going to then we were told, either way we have to deal with it.”

Dine shook his head, looking down.

“Yeah, I figured by your surprise you didn’t know anything about that, you certainly weren’t expecting it.” Bronson was trying not to rub it in, he knew how Dine was feeling right now. “Did you happen to see the one up on the roof, the ghoul in the suit with the cigarette in his hand?”

“No,” the realization hit Dine. “That was who you were shooting at. Did you hit your target?”

“No, another damned ghoul jumped up in the way right as I pulled the trigger.”

“Bad luck.”

“If you want to call it that sure, Dine.”

“I need a moment to think,” Dine said holding a hand up for Bronson to give him a moment. He turned back away from the others and took several paces away before opening up the small computer on his arm and studying it. “Get the SUV ready to go. I need to make a report.”

Dine walked further away from them. Nyx watched him, wondering exactly what he was reporting.

“Odd time to make a report,” she said up to Bronson.

“Military protocol, I’d have done the same.”

She nodded. Looking over at Pierce his head was leaning against the off-colored metal panel of the SUV. He looked sweaty and pale, licking his lips from thirst. He had almost died, she reminded herself. Reaching into her pack she got her bottle with what little water she had left in it.

“Here,” she offered it to Pierce.

He took it with a smile and drank slowly, savoring it. Nyx looked back up at Bronson.

“Shit got a little to real back there didn’t it?”

Bronson answered her question with a simple nod as he opened up the SUV, checking for any surprises and making sure nothing had been taken.

“It’s weird,” Nyx began. “How many times did you and I lie up on that old bridge and talk theory on what the ghouls might be thinking if anything. How many times did you talk about them adapting then brush it off like it could never happen?”

“Yeah.”

“You called it, it happened,” she stood and hadn’t intended to say the next part out loud. “And it’s pretty damn scary too.”

Bronson paused, looking at her before giving a brief sigh. He picked up the gas canister that he had carried and Pierce’s that was beside him. He went to the back and loaded them in before coming back around.

“Let’s get Pierce in and be ready to go when Dine gets back. He’s going to want to go and we still have to find water.”

Pierce had said he wasn’t up for driving. He just wanted to close his eyes for a moment. Bronson wasn’t too worried about him because he was able to get up and put himself in the SUV under his own power.

            “Pierce, are you sure you’re alright,” Nyx asked as she looked in on him from outside of the vehicle.

            “I’m good,” Jonah Pierce responded and followed up with a cough. “I think I just over did it back there, you know?”

            Nyx nodded and looked to Bronson who had made sure that everything was ready. He looked down at his belt at the small black box with the multiple flashing lights. The blue light was faded, no signal.

            “You still have your communicator on you, right?”

            Nyx looked up at her partner’s question. She whispered her response.

            “Yeah, why, you don’t think he’s planning on leaving us do you?”

            “You know me, just covering my bases.”

            Nyx didn’t like the ideas that this conversation had caused to run rampant in her mind. Dine was walking back towards them now. She couldn’t help but try and guess what he had reported, if the report had even made it yet. What was he thinking in that chemically messed up head of his.

            “Make your phone call,” Nyx asked him.

            “Had to send a delayed signal, I think there is a solar storm coming in that is interfering.”

            “They’ll have the shields up and the thrusters going full burn if there are asteroids coming too.”

            Dine nodded to Bronson.

            “I want to be done by the time that storm is over, we can be on our way back up.” Dine paused, seeing the driver’s seat was empty. Looking further back he saw Pierce lying down on the middle seat. “What’s his deal?”

            “I think it’s a lack of hydration,” Nyx was quick to respond. “Perhaps a small bit of shock from what happened?”

            “Inconvenient.”

            Bronson broke in, “I’ll drive if you want to navigate. Give him some time to recoup before we hit the Air Force Base.”

            Dine sighed loudly. He didn’t seem pleased with the idea but was willing to allow it. “Let’s go.”

            Bronson went around and sat in the driver’s seat, putting his rifle between the two chairs. Dine was in the passenger’s seat of the vehicle, bringing his computer on his arm up with the map. Nyx opted to climb into the back of the SUV, letting Pierce have the middle seat. She could already hear Bronson’s voice in the back of her head, “You’re getting soft on him. Don’t.” Whether he would have said it given the chance or not she was sure he was right.

            The black utility vehicle pulled out from the old gas station and paused at the road.

            “Take a right, we’ll go around Ephrata.”

            “Good choice,” Bronson commented to his navigator. “Don’t you think it’s about time you tell us where exactly where we’re going.”

            Dine paused in thought for a moment, either about Bronson’s question or something more pressing on his mind.

            “Vita Nova is connected to the service mainframe in a lab on the third sub-basement level of Fairchild AFB, ten miles outside of Spokane.”

            Bronson nodded and took the right turn.

            “Without our equipment,” Bronson asked. “How tough will transport of the Vita Nova be to the landing zone? I’m asking for any details. I know the Vita Nova is your area. My job was just to get you there and back safely, but I don’t think we should be dealing with any unnecessary surprises if you can warn us about them.”

            Dine was quiet again for several more long moments. He finally responded, not with an answer, but a direction.

            “Take this next left and head down that back road until we can get back on the highway.”

            “Dine,” Bronson wanted his question answered.

            “Mr. Bronson, anything that you need to know you already know. Now please take this next left.”

            The SUV made its way through another series of back roads. Nyx hadn’t heard all of the conversation up front as she sat in the back with her knees pulled up to her chest and the MP5 with its half clip of ammunition to her side. It was quiet after that. She was looking out the car’s window at the passing trees as they thinned out and revealed what was probably at one point a landscape of beautiful scenery.

            The view was mesmerizing in a way, so different from what she was used to in space. It was peaceful. She thought that she might have fallen asleep as they bounced lightly down the old road but Pierce began to snore, which broke the hypnotic drum that had threatened to pull her in. Nyx had almost resigned to closing her eyes, not sure how much longer before they would stop again when she saw something in the distance that caught her eye.

            Past the few dying trees at the front of the road was an old house that looked gutted with only the foundation and several wooden beams and a collapsed roof. There were no appliances, pipes, or insulation. It seemed stripped. The really odd thing was the car off to the side of the house, half-hidden by the old lean-to. It was a car, or at least pieces of one. Leaning forward now, face almost pressed to the window, she could see it a bit clearer now just before it got out of view.

            The skeletal outlines of what was once a small car was nothing more than tires and a plastic fiberglass shell with the seats still sitting in their proper position. It looked as if it was picked clean of the steel, cleaned off the bone like a piece of chicken. There were several patches of ground next to the car and near the road that had been pulled up, disturbed. Much of it was empty other than some broken small white PVC pipes. The aluminum pipes and other pieces were gone. Nyx’ eyes narrowed suspiciously.

            She turned to point out her findings, opening her mouth to speak until she realized that the SUV was slowing down to a crawl. She didn’t need to say anything. In front of her, further down the road on either side were other stripped houses and torn up ground. Power lines were down on each side and an old water tower off in the distance was missing its siding, now just a wooden frame.

            “What the hell is all of this,” Dine muttered, his eyes now scanning the computer on his arm, looking for answers. Fingers moving across the small keyboard, the scanners sought out variables in air samples and cross-referencing topographical readings.

            “What’s going on guys,” Nyx asked, but only silence followed.

            Bronson came to a complete stop but left the engine at an idle purr. Opening the passenger side door, Dine stepped out from the vehicle with his eyes still glued to the mobile computer’s green and black display. Prickling on the back of her neck, the small hairs came to attention causing Nyx to shiver. She pulled up on the handle slowly, not wanting much noise. The hatch on the back came up slowly as her hand guided it and she poked her head out looking around.

            “This doesn’t feel right,” Nyx said climbing out and stretching her legs. She was cautious, not wanting to step away from the SUV.

            Dine was looking around. He read the new line of information that scrolled across the screen.

            “We have a huge static build up in the air here,” he said eyeing a hill to their right. “Wait here.”

            Not giving opportunity for argument Dine jogged up to the hill and over it to scout ahead. He reached the tip of the hill, pausing to look around. His hand came up to shield his eyes and block the light from the sun. Bronson couldn’t make out the expression on Dine’s face. He had seen something though.

            Nyx was coming around the vehicle slowly. She reached the door that Dine had left open and looked in at Bronson with a worried expression. Dine was walking further away, vanishing behind the hill.

            “I don’t like this,” Nyx said squinting. “Maybe one of us should go with him.”

            “He’s in charge,” Bronson reminded her.

            “And if something kills him over there?”

            “We finish the mission,” he said flatly.

            “No,” Nyx wrinkled her nose. “That is not what I meant. Don’t blindly take orders.”

            “I don’t do anything blindly.”

            Nyx was getting slightly frustrated. It was hard to argue with Bronson, even when he participated in the argument. It didn’t help that Pierce had begun snoring again while she was trying to think up her response. Looking at Pierce, sound asleep, there was a moment of serenity. Maybe this would all work out—a pain struck her though. Something pinched at her inside her inner ear. Wincing, her knees felt weak. The surge of pain almost felt like the ground was moving beneath her.