Blue Plague: War (Blue Plague Book 6) (10 page)

“Jake, it’s bad enough with Buffy, but the twins are talking in unison to their blades,” Carl said, and a visible shiver ran up Ted’s spine.

“Yeah, they make good little sisters,” Jake said, smiling.

Bruce held up his hand before he started laughing. “Alright, guys. We’re rolling out to here,” Bruce said, pointing to the field.

“Now, that’s what I’m talking about,” Ted said.

“I have to agree with Ted. I don’t like having those speed demons only open to shots at two hundred yards,” Adam said, and Ted patted him on the shoulder.

“Bruce, I thought you were on a timeline? That’s what we set up to kill everything fast,” Willie asked.

“No, but this area will have a few more, and I don’t want Ted to wet his pants again. It’s really embarrassing when one of your troops wets his pants, Willie. I have to answer all kind of questions.”

“Yeah, I have to take his pants and have them washed,” Willie replied, smiling.

“Both of y’all, pucker up, and kiss my lily white ass!” Ted expressed.

“Okay, gentlemen, let’s do it again,” Bruce said. He kissed the family bye and left with the others.

The first platoon pulled out, followed by second, then supply followed by the third and fourth platoons. Like before, a few blues ran onto the road, but they exploded when the trucks hit them, and a Stryker was at the back of the convoy, gunning down followers.

Omega was set up in the field before 1400 hours, and the blues didn’t even wait on the music. Bruce told the driver to get up and man the fifty as he sat on the roof with the twins. The rest of the rig, like Omega, was sending hate downrange to greet the blues.

Sitting with the twins, Bruce watched them load and shoot at a bush he pointed out. Each UMP had a low-power scope, and with the stock opened up one click, it fit the twins nice. He let each one shoot at the bush with a whole magazine then told them to put in another one. He smiled when each one checked the safety before and after they reloaded.

Bruce looked up and saw a blue running at them. “Let me have this blue to my front, female black hair!” Bruce yelled. When the blue was two hundred yards away, Bruce shot her in the legs, making her fall down. When the blue got back up, she hobbled at them.

“Sherry, aim at her head, and don’t fire until I tell you, but when I tell you, I want you to keep shooting till she’s dead,” Bruce said. Sherry nodded and brought the submachine gun to her shoulder. “Safety off.” When the blue was a hundred yards away, he said, “Shoot her.”

Sherry slowly squeezed the trigger, hitting the blue in the shoulder. Like Bruce told her, she kept firing, hitting the blue in the chest, neck, arm, and throat, then at seventy yards, the blue’s head snapped back, and she hit the ground. Sherry put the gun on safe and looked up at Bruce, smiling. “That’s a girl,” Bruce said as Buffy and Danny started cheering.

Bruce looked at Emily. “You ready?” he asked. Grinning, Emily nodded. Looking out across the field, Bruce saw a Matrix kid coming, but he let Matt kill it. He had trouble hitting those damn things. A few minutes later, a blue male with long hair stepped out of the tree line. “Male long hair—let him through!” Bruce yelled.

When the blue was two hundred yards out, Bruce shot his legs. “Emily, get ready, and shoot when I say, and don’t stop till it’s dead.” Emily brought up her gun and like Sherry didn’t take the safety off or put her finger on the trigger. “Safety off,” Bruce said, and she flipped the safety. When the blue was at one hundred yards, Bruce said, “Shoot ‘im.”

Emily squeezed the trigger, missing the blue but slowly kept firing. Her next shots hit the blue in the chest and neck, then his head snapped back. Putting the safety on, she looked up at Bruce. “Good girl,” Bruce told her as he hugged both of them.

“Jake, come here!” Bruce yelled, and Jake jumped from the hood of his tuck and walked across the roof of Bruce’s.

“Yeah, Dad,” he said.

“Sit here with the twins, and slow one down like I did. Then, let them shoot ‘em.”

“Cool,” Jake said, grinning and sitting down between them after Bruce stood up.

“Jake, for every infraction they do, you will give me fifty pushups,” Bruce said.

“Infractions? These two? I’ll do a hundred for each one,” Jake said. “Blue to my front, male. Let him through!” he yelled.

Bruce smiled and walked around the top of the trucks, talking to the troops. When he was at the fourth platoon, Carl came over the radio, yelling, “Jake, you’re letting the twins shoot blues?! They’re little girls!”

“Yeah, they have been since yesterday,” Jake shot back.

Bruce turned the volume up on his radio so he could hear the conversation better. “You’re wounding the blues before they shoot them?” Carl asked.

“Well yeah. I asked the blues to slow down, but they are being total assholes,” Jake said.

“If I see one of those twins jump off and shank a blue, I’m leaving,” Carl said.

“Well, you just missed it. Emily wounded one, and it wouldn’t lift its head up, so she jumped off and ran over and stabbed it in the head.”

In a panicked voice, Ted called, “You better be kidding, dude.”

“Come over here and see it for yourself,” Buffy said over the radio.

“I mean it; if she did that, I’m leaving with Carl,” Ted told them.

“Ted, she only stabbed it one time,” Buffy said.

“We’re packing our bags, Carl,” Ted announced.

Bruce laughed as he jumped down and walked over to the command vehicle. Stepping inside, he saw Angela and Stephanie at one of the display tables. “Whatcha lookin’ at?” he asked.

“Bruce, the blues are coming but not like they did at the other field. I figure there are around ten to twelve thousand closing but they are just jogging here. It’s like they know we are powerful here, but they hate us so much they have to try to kill us. When we were at the other field, they thought they had a chance, so they all ran,” Angela said.

“Shit, that’s kinda what I figured in a roundabout sorta way.”

“Boss,” Willie called out on the radio.

“Willie, leave the twins alone,” Bruce replied.

“Not talking about them, but you’re not going to believe this. I have a blue at the tree line carrying a samurai sword.”

Feeling irritated, Bruce yelled, “Are you sure?”

“I’ll kiss your ass if I’m lying,” Willie said. “HOLY SHIT! He just cut a walker in half and is chopping it up.”

“I’m coming. That one is mine!” Bruce yelled.

“Bruce!” Angela yelled, making him stop.

“What?” Bruce said, turning around at the door.

“You have proved your point. They know about the advantages of weapons,” she said.

“Boss, he just chopped another walker in half!” Willie yelled over the radio.

“Leave that one; alone he’s mine!” Bruce yelled again. Looking at Angela, he said, “That blue is acting like a badass with a sword. I take that personal.”

Stephanie grabbed Angela’s arm. “Let him go show the stupid creature he is better,” she said.

Angela never took her eyes off of Bruce. “Bruce, if you get infected, we won’t kill you. I’ll muzzle you and keep you alive until we die. Do I make myself clear?” she said.

Feeling his knees get weak, “You’re cold as ice,” Bruce said, leaving. Angela turned to the crew and told them to watch the boys as she and Stephanie grabbed their rifles and followed.

Bruce ran over to Willie and climbed up on the truck. “Look, boss, he’s going after a jogger,” Willie said as Bruce climbed up. He looked where Willie was pointing three hundred yards away as Willie pushed binoculars in his hands. Watching through the binoculars, Bruce saw what Willie was pointing at. Its muscles jerked as it jogged, giving its gait a wobbling appearance. The sword-carrying blue ran up and sliced it from the shoulder to the pelvis.

The sword-carrying blue let out a roar, standing over the bisected jogger. Bruce saw movement on the ground and was amazed to see the jogger trying to drag itself away from the other blue. Sword blue then started chopping it up. “Boss, that blue has major attitude,” Willie said.

“Yep,” Bruce said, handing the binoculars back as Angela and Stephanie came over. Looking out across the field, Bruce yelled, getting the sword-carrying blue’s attention and scaring the shit out of everyone in Omega.

“Don’t shoot him; he’s mine,” Bruce said, jumping down.

“Willie from now on, just shoot the weird ones,” Adam called over the radio.

“Yeah, Willie, just shoot them,” Angela said.

Seeing Bruce jump down, the sword carrier took off in a dead run, actually leaving a trail of dust. “He better wound it before it gets here,” Stephanie said.

“Why do you think I ran out here?” Angela said, bringing her AUG up to her shoulder. Bruce was only ten yards from the line, still watching the blue run at him. Calmly, Bruce watched as the blue held his sword out to its side. When the blue was a thirty yards away, Angela squeezed the trigger, sending a burst into the blue’s left leg.

Bruce turned around. “Let that motherfucker get a little close, didn’t you?” he yelled.

“I thought about letting it get to you without shooting it!” she yelled back.

Leaning over, Stephanie whispered, “I would’ve spanked you really hard.”

The blue stood and hobbled toward Bruce, growling. Bruce just stood with his hands clasped to his front. Seeing Bruce not moving, the blue picked up his pace, which wasn’t much with his left femur shattered. When he was twenty yards away, Bruce reached over his back and pulled his sword.

Seeing that, the blue stopped and watched Bruce as he twirled the blade in his hand through the air and held it out in front of him. The blue looked at Bruce’s sword then at his. Holding his arm out, the blue moved his entire arm in a circle, trying to copy the movement. Going pale, Stephanie said, “That’s not good.”

“No, bitch, like this!” Bruce yelled and twirled the blade deftly in his hands, then he slashed the air in an X. The blue looked at Bruce’s sword then at his and waved his arm across his body. Looking back at Bruce, the blue growled. “Oh, you scare me so much,” Bruce mocked, and the blue grunted back at him, hobbling forward.

“Stomp my dick with golf shoes,” Stephanie exclaimed, watching the blue mimic Bruce’s stance.

“That is totally fucked up,” Angela said.

When the blue was six yards away from Bruce, he lunged bring his sword up over his head and swung it down. Bruce stepped to the side and swung his sword chopping the blues hands off still holding the sword. Spinning around with the swing Bruce continued his swing like he was swinging a bat, catching the blue in the back severing the spine. Continuing with the swing Bruce forced the blade through the stomach cutting the blue in half.

The blue fell in two pieces letting out a roar as Bruce walked over and swung the blade down cutting off the blue’s head. Everyone near saw the blue’s mouth and eyes still moving as Bruce calmly disinfected his sword and sheathed it. Then he walked over to the blue’s sword still being held in the severed hands.

Prying the hands off, Bruce walked over and stuck the blade into the ground and bent down, picking the severed head off the ground, holding it by the hair. Holding it up, he looked at those on Willie’s rig, “Anyone want a little head?” Bruce asked, grinning. They all looked at the still-living head and Bruce in abstract fear. Shaking his head, Bruce grumbled, “Tough crowd.”

Turning to where he shoved the blue’s sword in the ground, Bruce looked into the blue’s face. It was still filled with hate as Bruce smiled at it, and the eyes got wide, and for a second, the face lost its hateful expression. Angela dropped to her knees as several others threw up. “Thought just because you had a sword you were big and bad, huh?” Bruce said, ignoring the others.

The hate returned to the blue’s face, and the teeth started chomping in the air. “No, you’ve had your last meal. You will spend a week looking out over this field where I kicked your ass,” Bruce said, putting the head on the handle of the blue’s sword he stuck in the ground.

Taking off his gloves, Bruce threw them on the ground and pulled out his bottle of bleach, washing his hands. Then, he took out another pair of gloves and put them on. Climbing up onto the RG, Bruce looked at Willie, grinning.

Willie pointed at the head, saying, “Come on, Bruce; it’s looking at us.”

“It’s okay, Willie. It can’t hurt you, but leave it alone,” Bruce said, looking at the head. “Hey look, blue, I can scratch my nose,” Bruce said, rubbing his nose, and the blue’s face grimaced at him. He turned, walking away on top of the trucks toward his RG. The kids were all jumping up and down, cheering as Bruce came over.

“That man is so off the chain it’s unreal,” Willie announced. “Who in their right mind would want to fight him?” he asked no one then shrugged. “Guess that’s why we stay with him.” Willie looked at Stephanie. “Didn’t that gross you out?” he asked.

“That was cool as shit,” Stephanie gasped, still looking at the head moving its mouth, trying to growl and roar.

“Angela doesn’t think so,” Willie said, looking down at Angela, who was still on her knees.

“That’s so fucking cool! It’s still alive and pissed off!” she yelled, grinning. Giving up, Willie turned around.

“You two are a perfect fit for that family,” he said, walking away.

Chapter 9

Two days later, Omega was heading home from the Texas/Louisiana border. Bruce was riding in the command vehicle, playing with the boys. Angela and Stephanie were standing by one of the display tables, talking to each other. Bruce could tell from the expressions on their faces they were in a deep discussion. Walking over beside them, Bruce put his arms around them. “What are you two talking about?” he asked, looking down at the table.

Angela looked up at him, smiling. “Talking about how the blues are fighting each other now.”

“They aren’t fighting each other,” Stephanie said.

Angela pointed at the table with several pictures on the screen of blues attacking blues. “I beg to differ.”

“Those are walkers and a few joggers. They are viewed as weak and competition that can be removed,” Stephanie said. “If you look, the males take out the weak males, and the females take out the females.”

“That’s still fighting among themselves,” Angela replied.

“No it isn’t. It is only removing the weak. Look all through the animal kingdom, and you see the same thing. Granted, animals don’t use tools to do it,” Stephanie admitted.

Angela looked up at Bruce. “What do you think?” she asked.

Looking at the pictures and small video feeds from a UAV of two blue females tearing apart a female blue walker, Bruce shrugged. “I have to agree with Stephanie; they’re removing the weak competition.”

Throwing her hands up in the air, she said, “Okay, I’ll give y’all that, but it is only one step away from infighting.”

Stephanie shook her head. “No, you can’t make that assessment until you can prove it. Removing the weak is very common in the animal kingdom among all species.”

Angela just looked at both of them with a flat expression. “So you mean they are blue Nazis trying to create a master race of blue people?” she asked.

Hearing that, Bruce busted out laughing, which Angela didn’t care for. Stephanie shook her head. “No, not like the Nazis. They are removing the weak to decrease competition for food and mates, killing off the weak. Didn’t you ever watch the Discovery Channel and Nat Geo?” she asked.

“Of course I did, and I did read also. Yes, animals do remove the weak, but if you look at what we have, the blues are grouping together in packs. It won’t be long until the packs start fighting each other,” Angela said.

Getting his laughter under control, Bruce looked at Angela, grinning. “Little Foot, you are making a big leap there. No species with the exception of man will mark an entire species for extermination. The blues attack us on sight and actively hunt us. They care nothing for their losses, which goes against everything in nature. The goal of life is to survive, and if they wanted to do that, then they would leave us alone.”

Angela thought about what he said and looked back at the table. “I really don’t think they care about their life. They act like insects when they attack. Trying to overwhelm a target with no thought except to eradicate us,” she said.

“Yes, I can see that, but that would mean they won’t infight with each other to the degree you are talking about. They band together too easily to fight us, and nowhere in the animal kingdom do you see multiple packs of animals banding together, fighting a common enemy. They only pack together for benefit and can leave one pack and join another,” Stephanie said.

Still looking at the display table, Angela touched the screen and flipped through pictures until it stopped on a satellite photo of China. “Guys, if they don’t start fighting each other, we are going to die out fast,” she said, pointing at the picture on the screen. “You can’t even call this a mega horde. There are over seventy million in this one group moving up into Russia. The minions have seen four other hordes like this one and two over a hundred million. We can’t fight groups like this,” she said with tears running down her cheeks.

Bruce pulled her close. “Little Foot, they are on the other side of the world. We only have to worry about what’s over here,” he said with Stephanie agreeing.

Not convinced, Angela shook her head. “No, they will find a way to get here, and we can take out mega hordes of twenty to forty million, but a group that size could eat everything we throw at it and still get us,” she said.

“Like hell. I’d nuke one that size,” Bruce said.

Reaching over, grabbing his forearm, Stephanie said, “Ah Bruce, I wouldn’t do that.”

Bruce looked at Stephanie like she was insane. “Stephanie, I don’t think they can get here, but if they do, I’ll be damned if we will fight them like we are. Angela is right; they would roll over us like we weren’t even there.”

“Bruce, the infected repair DNA much better than we do, and the radiation would pose a bigger danger to us than them. In all probability, it would make them mutate to more lethal creatures,” she said.

“You just said they repair their DNA, so how can they mutate?” he asked.

“Their DNA wouldn’t start the accelerated growth of cancer common among radiation exposure. They could grow two hearts, run faster, get stronger, skulls get thicker—hell, any number of things,” she said.

“That is disturbing,” he said, looking at the satellite image.

“I’m not saying they can, but we can’t use nuclear against them until we know for sure. The ones we have are bad enough. Let’s not give them more of an advantage,” Stephanie said, putting her arm around his waist and looking at the table.

Angela looked up at Stephanie. “So you don’t think they will start fighting amongst each other anytime soon?” she asked.

“No, not really, but I do wish for it. They are a true separate species, and from the work Sandy brought, they have thirty-four different animal genes and six plant genes in their DNA. They are truly more genetically advanced that we are. They don’t get sick, injuries are healed very fast, and have the metabolism of a rock until they need it. By all rights, they should be dead. No life form should be able to adapt as fast as they are to their surroundings in the numbers they are in,” Stephanie said.

“Well, that means we just have to work harder at getting rid of them,” Bruce said.

“We will never be rid of them,” Stephanie said. “I only hope we can beat them down enough that they don’t evolve much more. When I watched you fight that one with the sword is when I became scared. He copied you,” she said.

“Stephanie, that’s where I think they picked up weapons from. They saw someone, a human, use that weapon and copied them.”

Angela looked up at him. “Bruce, we saw one charge us with a bicycle pump,” she reminded him.

“I think he saw a human use it beating a blue to death and picked it up,” he said.

“That’s what I mean; they can be taught,” Stephanie said.

“They have seen hundreds killed with guns. Why haven’t they picked one up yet?” Angela asked.

“Oh, I’m sure some have, but a gun is much more complicated, and they just beat people with them,” Bruce told her then looked at Stephanie. “What do you mean taught?”

“If we get one stupid human who captures a blue and tries to befriend it to teach it, we are fucked,” Stephanie said.

“What?” Bruce asked.

“Someone could teach them to use weapons, Bruce.”

“That is kinda far-fetched, don’t ya think?” he asked.

“No, you could teach a chimp, and the military even taught dolphins to use weapons. It can be done, but blues accept other blues readily into packs unlike other animals. If one learns, then it would spread,” she said.

“Nobody would teach a blue,” Angela scoffed.

“They already tried,” Stephanie said.

Both Bruce and Angela looked at her in abject horror. “What!” they both yelled, scaring everyone in the command vehicle.

“Sandy told me they tried twice, and one blue even fired a pistol. Granted, it wasn’t that good with it, but it did shoot it. The test subjects would try to kill the handlers and did on several occasions.”

“Why would anyone want to teach a blue that?” Angela yelled.

“To go out and kill other blues,” Stephanie replied.

“That’s insane!” Angela screamed.

“Of course it is. Why do you think Sandy is here?” Stephanie said.

“I thought—” Angela started.

“Yeah, she knew it was going downhill, but when she found out all this, she knew the scientists were grasping at straws. They had one test subject that was showing signs of hostility toward blues and were fixing to advance the training. Going through the reports, it only showed hostility toward midlevel infected: joggers.”

“Holy shit. We have to stop them,” Angela said.

“Don’t worry; the test subject is dead. Sandy killed the subject and wiped their computer system,” Stephanie said.

“Sandy!?” Bruce yelled out.

“Quit yelling,” Stephanie barked. “Yes, she saw where that was going and how easily it was going to turn against them. You don’t give your enemy knowledge to wipe out itself; you do it. She’s having a real hard time dealing with that.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Bruce promised.

“How many scientists are there?” Angela asked.

“Hundreds,” Stephanie replied.

“Do you think they will try that again?” Bruce asked.

“Oh, I’m sure they will if they haven’t already,” Stephanie said.

“We have to stop them,” Angela said.

“Absolutely. We are going to bomb them out,” Bruce replied, and they just looked at him. “What? I’m not driving up there and taking that base, nor am I waiting till this little war with the government is over. The idea of blues shooting at me terrifies me to no end. It scares me so much it inverts my penis.”

“Not all the scientists up there are doing that, Bruce. Some are doing real work we really need,” Stephanie said.

Bruce let out a sigh. “Stephanie, I know, and it’s a shitty thing to do, but we have no choice. I hate to condemn them all to death for the actions of a few, but teaching blues is way over the line.”

“Can’t we at least give them the option to stop?” she asked.

“No, baby. I’m sorry; they might just move and keep on training them,” Bruce answered as tears ran down her face.

“Stephanie, we can’t let them continue. You know that,” Angela said, putting her hand on Stephanie’s.

“I know, but this is not fair. Most of those scientists just want to help,” she whined.

“I know, baby, and some of the hostages we’ve killed just wanted to live, but we had no choice. This is threatening humanity, baby,” Bruce said.

“Part of me wishes I never said anything, and the other part wants to help load the bombs,” Stephanie said, crying.

“We would have found out soon enough. The spooks are hacking their system,” Bruce said.

Wiping her face with the back of her hand, Stephanie pleaded, “Let me tell Sandy.”

“Okay, baby.”

“I’ll come with you,” Angela said, hugging her.

“Thank you,” Stephanie said.

Bruce’s cellphone rang, scaring him. After so long without it, he was still getting used to it. “Hello,” he answered.

“Hey Bruce,” Mike said.

“Hey Mike, how goes the home front?” Bruce asked.

“Really well so far. The command group is here waiting on y’all to discuss what you three were just talking about,” Mike said.

Confused, Bruce yelled, “What?”

“Bruce, that is a command area, and it’s being monitored.”

“All right. Let’s get something straight here and now. The next command area that is ‘monitored’ without the commander’s permission, all responsible will be put on shit detail for one month. That does include the two lords of Oz. I don’t mind piece of mind for the clan, but eavesdropping on me pisses me off!”

“Bruce, you told them they could,” Mike reminded him.

“Well, I’m rescinding that order right now!” Bruce screamed.

“Okay, Bruce, don’t be mad at me, but Jake and Matt found out the same thing, and they have restarted trying to train blues,” Mike said.

“Tell Mack to get the F-15s loaded to wipe the site clean.”

“Already started that, Bruce. We will be here waiting.”

“I’m sorry I yelled at you, Mike, but this was a private moment.”

“I know, Bruce. That’s why I called in case it became more private.”

“I have crew members and kids here. It wasn’t going to get more private,” Bruce assured him.

“Whatever, dude. See you in twenty minutes,” Mike said, hanging up.

Bruce looked at the two. “Did y’all know we were being broadcast?” he asked.

“Yes, we are in a clan command center. The clan can see what goes on here,” Stephanie said, wiping the tear streaks off her face.

“They do but after we know it. I will not let bogus information and half-truths spread fear through the clan,” Bruce said.

“Bruce, they helped build it and do supply us,” Angela said.

“Well, if they want to know what’s going on at the front, I suggest they grab a weapon and join,” Bruce said.

“Bruce, they like seeing you fight the blues. It gives them peace,” Angela said.

“That’s fine, but I speak my thoughts and ask others for information to make my decisions. I don’t want that broadcast from the front.”

“That’s fine, Bruce. It will stop,” Angela said, seeing Bruce was really pissed off.

They rode in silence the rest of the trip back. The command vehicle pulled up to the gate, and Bruce, followed by the duo, climbed out carrying sleeping kids. It was 2100 hours as they walked inside the house and laid the kids on the floor in the living room. Jake and Matt came in carrying the twins, also asleep, and laid them by the boys.

After covering the kids up, Bruce walked down to command bunker. When he walked through the door, Jake ran over to his spot and looked at his dad. “Dad, you told us we could do that. I didn’t think it was that good of an idea, but I asked you, and you said, ‘I don’t care.’”

“You weren’t with me or here. How in the hell could you know about this?” Bruce yelled.

Jake lifted up his cellphone. “My minions called me,” he said.

“Well, son, I will take that one, but from now on all cameras are out of command areas. I’m not hiding information, but I want all the information before I let others know.”

“Hey, you aren’t telling me anything. The people of the clan are smart, but I want them to know facts, and I really don’t ever want them to see you scared,” Jake replied.