Chapter 25: Lost and found

Thompson was livid. They had had no contact with their captain since the Delta Protocol. And that had been 4 days ago! What the hell was recon doing? He thought about everything Mathiew had gone through to become accepted and to be trusted again and hoped that he had survived. The man had asked so many questions: where was the virus originated from? No one knew. Surprisingly, information’s on the virus’s origin were scarce at best. It was agreed that it had been there from mankind origin and was in every mythos out there. Vampires were one of the best example, not the “glowing king” but the Nosferatu of old. People didn’t know about zombies at the time and witnessing an attack by a creature named it vampire. But it still did not give answers. Why did a small percentage of human able to mutate with the virus while most of them simply turned mindless killers? No one knew. It was in the gene but more than that… Well, he had done well for himself, thought Thompson, if someone could survive a delta protocol it was Mathiew Andrews.
Thomas was awaken from his reverie by a someone saying his name: “Thompson, sir? I…I think I have something.” Thompson turned toward the young private and looked at him sharply, well? Out with it man, what is it?
- I have been analyzing the satellite imaging around the perimeter of the Delta and found something odd. There is a shadow growing where there should not be anything.
- Meaning private?
- Meaning that either there is a huge tree growing or something is darkening the soil. And to be seen from that height, it has to be big sir.
- I see your point. It might be good to investigate, send an S&R team. Warn them to approach with caution. We never know, it could be another trap.
- Yes sir!
Thompson went back to his thoughts. Mathiew had gone the extra mile every time he had to do or learn something. He had made it his business to know more than anyone about their new enemy, to hunt it down whenever he could. He had been one of the first to warn the other about a global threat. No one had wanted to believe them. Oh how they believed him now! Half their forces destroyed or missing in action after a bare 1 year of real conflict, awareness growing with the world’s population, pressure from every dam government out there to do something, as if they were sitting on their ass, and more regular troops in their ranks than should be allowed. It as a risky thing since everyone of them could become the enemy if bitten or contaminated. So many liabilities that it was frightening at time.
The thing that truly scared Thompson was that after almost 10 000 years, they were no closer to a cure or a vaccine than they were to prevent the annual flu pandemic. It was maddening. Research to prevent the Z virus from mutating humans were not giving any results. They had tried everything from drugs, to nanobots to no avail. Radiation killed it, but the host died to. With enough drugs, you could destroy it, but no one survived the side effects. And nanites were useless as they were destroyed by the virus!!!!! For a poor Scotsman whose time was long before all this, it was like seeing the power of the church loosing its grip all over again, but this time God was science, and it was losing to a virus so old, it should have been eradicated long ago.
They knew all about its working: the virus entered the blood stream and started mutating anything that it touched. Every cell in contact with it became undead. Once it reached the brain, it killed it and changed its structure so that it was independent from the rest of the human body. It only allowed information from flowing in one direction: from the brain out. That’s what made it so dangerous. Nothing short of destroying the brain killed it. And even then, it stayed alive in the blood, saliva or any other fluid for 22 hours. Cutting the head was stopping the body, but the head itself was still able to bite. And feeding was the only real instinct left in the brain.
They knew all about how the zombie found its food since they had conscious one on their side, but from where did the virus found the genetic material to create this ESP organ? It was said that the human brain was only used to 10% of its capacity, but still. Creating an all new pattern of cells so the Z could detect a human from far away with a sense of smell that was not even there, it spoke of a virus so advance that it should not have been so old. Contradictions within contradictions.
Then, Thompson ears picked a conversation between the Search and Rescue team that made his blood run cold: Target conformed sir, it is the captain alright. But… we are faced with roughly 1 000 Z’s and almost as many dead. They are circling a tent. Waiting. And every 5 minute, 10 of them go and attack’s it. And 5 minute later, 10 other. There is more, we have found sing of one heat source. Small and human. Probably a baby sir. And the captain is… he is in his Dark Hunter persona sir. I repeat, he is in his Dark Hunter Persona. We request backup ASAP. And sir? Bring the heavy weapons… we will need them.
Thompson was amazed and not a little worried: 4 days as a D-H. That would be hell to heal…