Project Zulu (3 page)

Mike greets them as they step off the elevator. He is
in casual civilian dress, if a suit and tie can be considered casual. “Ross,
Jimmy, good to see you guys. Sorry about ruining your Sunday. Let’s get inside
and get online with everyone and I can go over all the details.”

Ross spoke up, “Who else is joining us?”

Mike stops walking and turns to face them, “My
Boss.”

“The Chairman is going to be on the conference
call?”

“Not exactly. Come on, we gotta get started.”

Once the computer has verified everyone’s credentials,
the headphones announce, “Please stand by for the President of the United
States.”

“Good afternoon everyone. General, thank you for arranging
this meeting, I have already read your report and the intelligence brief; go
ahead and bring Dr. Gandle and Mr. Gaston up to speed.”

“Yes Sir, thank you. I will keep this brief, so that
we can concentrate on rounding out the security team. One of our listening
teams recently uncovered some disturbing intelligence and we have been able to
verify it is authentic. The head of the mid-west crime syndicate, Joseph
Victorino, has apparently been able to get to somebody inside Syscorp.” He
paused to let what he just said sink in.

Ross’s lower jaw dropped, and might have fallen to
the floor if it was not attached. Jimmy looks more scared than surprised.

“We have made the decision to fast-track the
security team selection, and change protocol for handling of the specimen
samples. Project RE-AN is going to be renamed; moving forward the project will
be known as Project Zulu. The classification of the project is being increased
along with the security. It has also been decided to make some changes to the
leadership of Project Zulu; I will be assuming the project lead immediately.”

Jimmy reacted, “Now hold on just a minute Mike!”

“Mr. Gaston, during this briefing all protocol will
be followed, please save all questions until after the briefing has finished;
and please address me as General.”

The President interjected, “General, I really do not
have all day. Mr. Gaston, Dr. Gandle, I want to make this very clear. General
Balchor is now running the project. If you are not on board with this decision,
you can be debriefed and removed from the team altogether. I will not allow
this potential technology to go unchecked on my watch. General, I want the
security team in place by 2100 hours. Once the team is in place, proceed with
the relocation of the specimen to the new destination. Leave only enough to go
forward with the laboratory trials. As I understand it, most of the left hand, the
fingers and thumb were completely utilized during the previous phases?”

“That is correct Mr. President”, answered Mike.

“Now if you will excuse me, I would like to have
Sunday dinner with my wife and son.”

Mike motions for Ross and Jimmy to remain seated
after the President has signed off the call. “Alright guys, I really do not
like this any more than you do, but you heard the man. As of now I am taking
full control of the newly named project, Project Zulu. You are both about to be
briefed with new background on the project, which by the way will increase both
of your clearance levels. You will know everything there is to know, except where
Specimen Z, which is the new unclassified name for the test subject, is being
relocated to. Just listen to the brief and we can talk afterwards.” Mike
initiates the digital brief from the touch screen in front of him and listens
along with Ross and Jimmy, as the synthesized voice begins.

“Audio briefing for Project Zulu, classification
code Top Secret, SCI-SAP (
S
ierra,
C
harlie,
I
ndia
dash
S
ierra,
A
lpha,
P
apa).
Project Zulu is a
cooperative initiative between The Department of Defense and The Department of
Homeland Security under the direct supervision of the Commander in Chief and
Joint Chiefs of Staff. The primary mission of Project Zulu is to develop an
inoculation that will provide for reanimation of deceased military combatants.”

“Background scope: Specimen Z was discovered and
captured in late August, 1960 during the Benin Revolution. Benin, formerly
known as Dahomey, is located on the African west coast; and is one of the
origins of the 18
^th
century slave trade, modern day Haitians trace
their ancestry to Benin. Also, the origins of the Haitian religion, Voodoo, can
be traced to the Ancient practice of African Vodun.

It is believed that Specimen Z is a byproduct of a
Vodun ceremony. Scrolls that were discovered with Specimen Z, which have been
translated by Voodoo experts, detail its origin. According to the scrolls; a
supremely powerful medicine man held a zombification ceremony of a brave war
chieftain, who was being possessed by a great African deity, Nzambi. The hopes
were that an unstoppable, undead warrior would be created, to defend the tribe
from the white devils with chains. Because the warrior was under possession of
Nzambi, he was not reduced to being a normal juju zombie –a mindless automaton,
incapable of remembering his past human life–he was able to think and act in a
rational manner. He also assumed the immortal properties of Nzambi, making it
impossible to kill him. So with the great power and strength of the undead, and
the immortal protection of Nzambi, he went out to face the white devils. Many
great battles ensued, sparking the Voodoo folklore and legend of zombies, the
French slave traders had no explanation for the undying warrior, which they
named Rougarou-Zombi.

After all of the battles had been fought, and once
the white devils were expelled, the Bokur attempted to reverse the spell,
freeing the great chieftain. However, the warrior did not want the possessing
spirit to be banished. In a great struggle, the Bokur was killed, and the
warrior subdued by the tribe. He was chained inside a great cave, and the
opening was sealed by many tons of rock.

It was inside that cave that American Operatives
(CIA), aiding Benin freedom fighters, discovered Specimen Z. The newly formed
Benin government was all too happy to allow the American Operatives to assume
custody of the creature discovered in the cave. Specimen Z was transported back
to America. Testing began immediately, Specimen Z was difficult to control,
many handlers and researchers were killed. In 1965, the true potential of
Specimen Z was discovered after one handler was accidentally bitten. Within
hours, the handler became a mindless shell of himself, with supernatural
strength. He killed and infected twelve other researchers before he was subdued.

The possibilities were endless; military minds began
to churn at the thought of the invincible armies that could be created with the
help of Specimen Z. After many mishaps and one near fatal outbreak in 1968,
that was covered up by blaming a radioactive space probe explosion, Specimen Z
was placed in deep seclusion and all testing ceased. Then in 1989, a fledgling
technology (Cryogenics) enabled Specimen Z to be controlled. Project Zulu phase
one (formerly Project RE-AN) was established September 12, 1992.”

The briefing continued going over past directors,
milestone discoveries etc., all stuff Jimmy and Ross knew already. Once the
audio stopped, Jimmy removed his headphones and walked right up to the General.

“Zombies Mike? Zombies! Are you kidding me? This is
science, not science fiction.”

“Calm down Jimmy, I know it’s hard to believe. When
I found out yesterday I didn’t want to believe it either. I have seen film
footage and some old black and white Polaroid prints. Trust me, it is true.”

“Mike I will not calm down. What the hell are we
talking about here? Reanimating dead soldiers, turning them into zombies? I
thought we were trying to isolate the vector strain of the DNA sequence…I
thought we were trying to cure cancer, synthesize organs…I thought my research
was going to be able to help people like Julie; people with real medical
concerns.”

“The scope of the project has changed.”

“Changed? That’s the best you can come up with? The
scope of the project has changed? What the hell is going on Mike?”

Ross is still in his seat with a look of total
amazement on his face. “I remember when it happened, back in 1968, well bits
and pieces anyway. It happened here in the area, close to here anyway, somewhere
up around Evans City, right? I remember watching the news reports on
television, it all started at some farmhouse next to a cemetery. The next day
it was downplayed, the media did a special briefing calling it a hoax, like the
Orson Welles radio program back in the 30’s about Martians.”

“That is right Ross, I didn’t think you were old enough…”

“I was just a kid, maybe six or seven. I only
remember because it scared the hell outta me. Is this what we are dealing
with?”

Mike walked to the front of the room. “Listen, I
know this is a lot to digest. I want you to go home, get some rest. I have
already finished picking the security team, you were just called in as a
formality, and they are being briefed right now. Specimen Z is being relocated
as we speak, and final testing begins Tuesday. Go on, get outta here, and come
back Tuesday.”

And just like that, General Balchor was gone. Jimmy
and Ross look at each other. Jimmy motioned for Ross to be quiet and to follow
him. They went to Jimmy’s office. He was sure there were no listening bugs
there.

“Ross, did you know anything about this?”

“No Jimmy, I swear I am just as surprised as you.”

“I still don’t know exactly what to make of this,
but I can tell you that it has just gone to a new level. You can do what you
want, but I am getting rid of my insurance policy, do you know what I mean?”

“Jimmy I am not so sure that is a good idea. How
would we get past security?”

Jimmy tosses a couple of small square packages on
his desk, and explains the plan to Ross. “Just make sure you get rid of it
right, I am thinking cremation, then sealing the ashes in an airtight
container, and then sinking the container in the swamp. You do whatever you
want, but if you get caught, I will sell you down the river, just like I would
expect you to do to me.”

“Jesus, Jimmy…you sure, maybe we should just tell
General Balchor about the thumb, you know give it back to …”

“Are you nuts? We would be arrested and put away
forever! What about your wife, what about my daughter? No, we get rid of it,
end of discussion.”

“Jimmy, I am sorry, I know that you were hoping to
correlate this research with a way to help Julie.”

“Well, it looks like that is no longer an option.
Besides, Julie got her kidneys; the hospital called last week. I just need to
finalize the arrangements and get her to Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles. Ross,
it is time for us to cover our tracks. I will see you Tuesday.”

The moonlight is shimmering off the standing water
of willow bog. The sounds of bull frogs serenading the stars dominate the crisp
cool air. Off in the distance, a piercing light leads the way for the thunderous
boom and throttle of an iron horse. William Harley and Arthur Davidson would be
proud of the 1973 Shovelhead, decked out in polished chrome and wearing
America’s colors. The cursive white letters across the gas tank identify her as
‘Old Glory’; riding atop Old Glory, as always, is Breaker.

Breaker –Christian name Francis John O’leary–is a
stereotypical biker, by appearances only. He is called Breaker by different
people, for different reasons, women because he breaks their hearts, men because
he breaks their jaws and cops, because he breaks their laws. He has grown
comfortable in the nickname, and encourages the use of it. When Breaker
encourages something, it was a pretty good idea to go along. He stands six foot
five inches tall and tips the scales at 285 pounds; not an ounce of fat, all chiseled
hard muscle. He wears his hair tied back in a pony- tail and his mustache and
goatee would make any walrus proud.

Before he was Breaker, he was Petty Officer O’leary,
A Naval Special Warfare Operator (SEAL). He enlisted in the Navy right out of
high school. During the initial eight weeks of basic, he took the ‘SEAL
Challenge’. The ‘SEAL Challenge’ allows less than 40 minutes to swim 500 yards,
do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 25 pull-ups and run one and a half miles, Breaker
finished in under 30 minutes. He was on his way to being a warrior. Fifty-nine weeks
of torturous training later, he earned his Trident and the title S.O., Special
Operator.

Breaker gave the Navy eight more years of his life.
He became very disillusioned with the civilian leadership, pulling the strings
of the military, after what he considered a ‘lack of positive response’ to the
terror attacks on September 11, 2001. Officially, according to his declassified
service record he completed his term of service and was honorably discharged.
Unofficially, he and three other members of his team were ‘relieved’ from duty with
full pensions, after they launched an unauthorized, covert operation in the
foothills of Afghanistan, looking to even the score. The unconfirmed body count
of their excursion was forty five.

Now, at the age of 42, he is happy to live off his
military pension and hold court every night with his trusted friends and
followers.

Old Glory is tearing down State Route 166, heading
for a familiar destination. The glow of the neon sign identified Valhalla from 700
yards in both directions. Breaker steers into the gravel parking lot, Old Glory’s
motor grumbles like a giant gargling glass; he kills the gas and props her up
on the kickstands. He takes his riding jacket off and lays it across Old
Glory’s seat, he has no doubt it will still be there later, no matter how long
he stays inside.

As he prepares to go through the front door, he stops,
smiles and stretches out his arms in front of himself lacing his fingers and
cracking each knuckle. Tattooed on his left inside forearm is an eagle gripping
an anchor, trident and musket; on his right, in bold letters, the phrase ‘God
of Thunder’. He knows that no matter what else is happening inside Valhalla,
the minute he walks in, the chorus from the KISS classic (God of Thunder) will
grace the sound system. He is smiling because he thinks that it is cool to have
his own entrance music. He pushes through the door, seconds later he is bathed in
a pounding base line, and the entire bar begins singing along with Gene.
“God
of thunder (Dadu-Da) and rock and rolllll (Da-da-da-da-Dun-da-da-da) the spell
you’re under (Dadu-Da)…”