What Remains: The Outbreak Read online

  What Remains

  The Outbreak

  Tyler Barrett

  © 2017 Tyler Barrett

  I dedicate this book to my wife, son, and family. You have all encouraged me to follow my dream of writing a novel and gave me the strength to do it.

  Prologue

  Lieutenant Diachi looked out from the small command tent, noticing how much the city had changed in the short time he had been there. His platoon had been deployed in Tokyo, setting up their checkpoint at an intersection right in the heart of the city. In a weeks’ time, they had lost control. Now they were the only thing standing between the fleeing civilians and the infected.

  Diachi stood to leave his tent, looking at the ten soldiers who remained. He had started with twenty men under his command, but many of them had been requisitioned to other posts. He had even lost several soldiers to the infected. Diachi felt as though he had failed his men; he wasn’t the leader they needed him to be. He would redeem himself by defending the checkpoint and give those fleeing the city the precious time they needed to escape.

  He felt his stomach tighten as he approached his men to give a short speech, “Men, I understand if you wish to leave, and try to find your families. Those who wish to stay and defend this post, I commend you. I have served with you proudly and hope that we may make some good from this situation.”

  Diachi barely considered it a speech, but he couldn’t think of anything better to say. It wouldn’t be long before the infected hordes made their way to the checkpoint. As he turned to go back into the small command tent, the soldier he had posted on watch suddenly yelled, “Targets in sight! They are heading straight for us!”

  Diachi and his men simultaneously grabbed their weapons. His hands shook as he looked down the street; hundreds of infected marched towards the checkpoint. Anxiety filled Diachi as they waited for the infected horde to come within range. The drum of the marching infected echoed off the buildings, changing Diachi’s anxiety to fear. There was too many infected swarming down the street. He knew they wouldn’t be able to stop the horde, only slow it down and thin their numbers.

  Diachi felt the infected were finally in range and took aim with his rifle. He took the first shot at the horde, and his men followed his lead. Their aim was true, killing a few infected. It didn’t seem to make any difference to the horde, as one infected fell, another moved to replace it. Their shots became quicker as the horde moved closer to the checkpoint.

  The horde drew closer, and Diachi threw a well-placed grenade. The loud boom and bright flash made the men take cover, forcing them to look away. They all looked back in unison, only to see a screen of smoke. The grenade had done its job well. The infected in the front of the horde had been ripped to shreds, many of them losing limbs, but ultimately it slowed the progress of the horde.

  The infected continued though, stumbling over the dead bodies. Together, the soldiers began firing once more. The gunfire almost masked the animalistic noises made by the infected closing in. Diachi could feel the dread settling into his men and knew they had only stayed because running meant they were cowards.

  A few infected had made it to the wall and were clambering over it, attacking a couple of the men. Diachi took aim at the infected on top of his men, trying to help them. Those who weren’t fighting hand to hand with the infected kept firing until their rifles were dry, and only the clicking of the empty chamber was heard. Diachi pulled out his sidearm knowing that he just had twelve shots. He made them carefully, lining up his targets before squeezing the trigger, making sure they counted.

  The make-shift wall was overwhelmed. Most of the pieces were being shoved out of the way by the infected, allowing more to rush in. It was like a dam bursting, with an endless sea of infected pouring in. The checkpoint was lost. Diachi, lined up his last few shots, as the infected surrounded him. He could have run, but his was duty to stay.

  The last thing Diachi saw was one of his men lunging at him, tackling him to the ground. He felt the soldier’s teeth dig into his neck, tearing into his flesh. Diachi tried to cry out but couldn’t. Blood filled his airpipe, choking him. Each heartbeat pumping more blood from his wound.

  As his blood spilled out of his mouth, Diachi saw the morning sky above. One last peaceful memory. Diachi smiled; he had redeemed himself, his duty fulfilled. He started to feel cold, knowing he was about to die. His heartbeat for the last time before he faded into nothing.

  It was at this last moment that the radio in Diachi’s tent burst to life, “We need reinforcements; there are too many! Does anyone copy?”

  Chapter 1

  A Normal Day

  Opening his eyes, Kenji saw the same ceiling he saw every morning. Reaching over he shut off the alarm that had intruded his sleep. Getting up, he turned, sitting at the end of the bed. Light leaked through the shades hanging from his window. Just another day in his routine life. Getting ready for work, he showered, dressed, and prepared a simple breakfast. He watched the news while eating and caught a bit about a small rural town that was placed under Martial Law due to civil unrest. Thinking nothing of it, he shut off the TV, grabbed his briefcase, and left for work.

  He left the lobby of his apartment building, and the noise of the city filled the air. Kenji walked down the few steps that led down to the sidewalk and saw his neighbor from across the hall walking up the stairs. Speaking a quick hello to one another, they both continued on their way.

  Kenji sat down on the bench as he waited for the bus, and watched the people walking by. He liked to people watch and observe the passersby. He could see things that people did out of habit, like continuously check their watches without really looking at the time. He could also see the things that people had to force themselves to do, like the very hurried man who was clearly keeping his temper in check because he got stuck behind a slower, older gentleman, on a crowded street. He could tell how these people were by the way they carried themselves. It wasn’t an exact science, but he usually had a good instinct about people.

  Five minutes later the familiar noise of the bus approaching snapped him out of the reverie of people watching. The people at the bus stop lined up to get on the bus, and he moved in closer to hopefully a seat; he preferred to sit over standing. Climbing onto the bus, he paid his fare and found an open place to sit near the middle. The bus started off down the street, moving closer to the center of the chaos they called downtown.

  Kenji looked out the window; beyond the glass, he continued to watch the people on the streets. Adults went to their jobs, and children went to their schools to learn. The hustle and bustle of the city were just beginning for the day as the bus reached the major business center of the city. They stopped at their destination, five blocks away from his building. Getting off the bus, the sounds of the town multiplied, and he stepped into the maze of downtown. Fighting his way through the crowd, he started on his daily path to his office.

  Reaching the skyscraper where he worked, he pulled open the door and walked towards the security desk. Kenji pulled out his office ID badge and showed the security guard. Once cleared, he made his way to the elevator and punched the twenty-fifth-floor button. He always hated elevators and that giddy feeling they gave you when they shot up too quickly. After the twenty other occupants scattered to their floors, the elevator stopped on his floor, and he stepped out. Kenji stopped to make small talk with the receptionist, asking how her family was, as he did every day.

  Kenji made his way to his cubicle, saying good morning to his coworkers as he passed them. He set down his briefcase, took off his jacket, draping it over the back of his chair. He sat down and let out a deep breath, before starting up his computer and logging into the company server.

  Lo
oking at the spreadsheets, he determined everything from spending costs to employee paychecks clearing. Today, he was working on employee bonuses making sure each employee got their correct amount. After several hours of this, he took his lunch break. Talking to several coworkers, he discussed the unrest in the countryside, and how many of them thought that it would not be long before it spread to the cities.

  After lunch, he continued his work, barely finishing before it was time to clock out. Riding the same bus home, he exited and walked back to his apartment building. Unlocking his door, he walked in and lazily closed it behind him. He set his stuff down and strolled over to his balcony, facing the downtown of the city.

  Being on the nineteenth floor, he could feel the gentle breezes that came against the building like waves. Breathing in the fresh air, he loosened his tie and took in the view of the downtown sprawl. The lights of the city made a slight artificial glow around the tall spires of downtown. He imagined the city was more like a beacon of light amongst the dark rural sea. Beyond the city looked forbidding, the dark bringing primal fears of the unknown.

  Kenji went back inside and started making yet again a quick, simple meal. Sitting down, he turned on the TV and began to eat. The news was on again, although different than this morning’s newscast. Tonight, there was a hospital in a town no more than five hours away, displayed on the screen. The newswoman gave her report, which told of a small riot that ended with twelve dead and another seven injured. Officials told her that the injured were still being treated at the hospital behind her.

  During the middle of her report, two military cargo trucks with their beds covered drove behind her, entering the walled parking lot. As the second truck drove over the speed bump, a dead arm fell out from behind the cover, hanging over the edge of the truck. The truck quickly pulled around the corner, arm disappearing with it. He thought he was seeing things because he was tired. “No,” he thought, he was completely sure of what he saw.

  Wondering about the arm, and the person it belonged to, he continued to watch the TV for a little while. Kenji pushed those thoughts out of his mind; he just didn’t have it in him to care about it. Today had been another long, tedious day at his job, and all he wanted to do was relax before doing it all over again. Kenji briefly logged on his computer to check his email, only receiving one email of importance from his childhood friend and girlfriend. He replied to her request for him to call her about going on a date over the weekend. Apologizing for not having the time to call her that evening, he set a place and time, then got ready for bed.

  Chapter 2

  An Easy Mission

  Sargent Knight picked up his rifle, the standard M4. Its weight felt familiar, an extension of himself. He put the magazine into the lower receiver, before grabbing two more magazines, shoving them into pouches on his vest. The room was silent besides the rustling of clothing, metallic shuffling of rifles, and other gear being unloaded. Knight took a moment to look at the other men in the room, three from his team, with a total count of twenty-four, including himself.

  Smith, his friend from the beginning of his tenure in the Special Forces Unit, was beside him. Smith was their Communications Technician, making sure they had a secure, stable connection to command. This was an important job; without their direct line to command, they would have no support if they needed it. Smith, although not actually related was like a blood relative to Knight; they had each other’s back no matter what.

  Next, was Ramirez, who was their medic in the field. He held a smaller, more compact MP5, and preferred it for its mobility. Ramirez was a solid team member and rarely lost his cool under pressure. Knight admired him for that and welcomed his opinion when it was needed. So far, Ramirez had never let him down and showed no signs of doing so.

  Lastly, the newest member of their team, Carter. It was their first mission with him, and Knight wasn’t sure how he felt about the man. He was younger than the rest of them but held many merits before being tested for the Special Forces. Carter was an accomplished soldier but didn’t share the same bond as the other three soldiers did. He was the only one they hadn’t seen work under pressure during a mission. Knight was unsure how Carter would react and that scared him.

  Knight studied Carter; this mission would be a good chance to observe him, to test if he would fit in with his team. Their mission was going to be an easy one, one that wouldn’t have much of a challenge or dire situation to get out of. Knight didn’t believe in first appearances, much preferring a live combat situation; people showed their true colors when faced with life or death. The men who stayed in the Special Forces worked together as a unit, providing whatever effort they could to ensure both each other’s safety and completion of the mission.

  Knight finished putting his gear on, checking to make sure all his straps were on tight. Knight felt his team was ready enough for this mission. A quick VIP grab and holding until the ship they were currently on, deployed the two thousand Marines onboard. Once they arrived a few hours later, they would be on a plane back to the States. Knight felt it odd that they would send special forces on a non-combat mission, but he was looking forward to the easy mission and possibly getting to know Carter better.

  Captain Lewis, leader of the mission, stood at the front of the room, “Alright everyone, you know your tasks, I expect everything to go smoothly and we should all be back home in less than twenty-four hours,” Captain Lewis stated with a smile.

  Knight, and the other three soldiers from his team grouped up, following everyone outside. Opening one of the doors, they walked out onto the flight deck, where three Chinook helicopters waited for them to board. Knight followed Captain Lewis, while two other squads of men climbed aboard the other two helicopters. Each man took a seat and donned a helmet so they could speak to each other over the deafening roar of the helicopter’s blades.

  The pilots spoke to the air controller, asking for clearance to take flight. After a few moments, they received their answer and fully powered the beast of a machine. The helicopters hovered above the flight deck for a moment, before heading towards their destination, Japan.

  Chapter 3

  The Briefing

  Twenty-four men sat in a room, all of them soldiers waiting to be given their mission briefing. Many of the men had just arrived several hours before from all around the world, tasked with different missions. It had been quite some time since many of them had been in the same room together, which meant that something serious was probably happening. Knight sat in the middle of the room, waiting for the briefing to start, wondering just how serious the situation was.

  The door opened, letting in a man dressed in a black suit with red and white striped tie, all tailored to perfection. It gave him the unmistakable, prominent look of leadership. He turned the lights down as he walked in, and shortly after an image on the screen in the front of the room appeared. A map of the Pacific; with a click, the map zoomed in. Without any introduction, he launched into giving his report.

  “Japan,” the man said, “has been in a complete blackout for two weeks. Their government completely shut itself off to the outside world. At first, reports of rioting and civil unrest, culminating with a government collapse. However, cutting off their communication between themselves and the outside world, no one could be sure if that was true or not. Two days ago, we received a distress call. The last remaining government officials calling for help from within a secret government bunker located in Tokyo. We learned from them that something much worse destroyed their nation.”

  Knight immediately thought of chemical warfare, some sort of terrorist attack. A whole nation though? An enormous force would be required for such a takeover, and the world would notice such a hostile move. He ruled that out, they would be sending the might of the US military if Japan was under occupation, not just several teams of Special Forces.

  The man in the suit paused, glancing around at the soldiers sitting before him, then continued, “Now, what we learned and isn't being publicly
announced, is that a viral outbreak crippled the entire nation in a matter of a couple weeks. Shortly after receiving the distress signal from the bunker, we lost contact with them. The only thing we were able to learn before they went dark was, it doesn’t seem to be airborne. If you don’t touch any of the infected bodies, you won’t contract the virus. The projections that we have reported that approximately ninety-nine percent of the population has been killed by this epidemic, so there is a chance you may find survivors, but it’s unlikely,” the man in the suit paused for effect again.

  “And this is where you come in,” the man in the suit said, calmly, as he paced the front of the room. “We are sending in three squads of men, which are to be split into two teams of four each, as an expeditionary force. Your mission is to find and contact the remaining Japanese government, assuming there is anyone left alive. Our current plan is dropping everyone in by plane overnight, this may change due to weather reports we have.”

  The soldiers at the table sat upright, attentive to the briefing. The man in the suit held the sway of the room, commanding the attention of all within. He spoke loudly and clearly to leave no misunderstanding with the men seated before him.

  “Each team has a different drop zone and initial objective,” he pointed at the map, highlighting three different areas of operation. “Team Alpha and Bravo will land on the Dentsu building in the Minato ward, with the goal of setting up and maintaining a forward operating base. They will set up a communications tower, then clear the building for the main force of two thousand Marines, arriving several hours after your deployment. Once each team has accomplished their primary objective, they are to join Alpha and Bravo teams at the new forward operating base and hold the position.”