After the Pandemic: Genocide (14): The Weight (790 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesLabels: After_the_Pandemic
Rating: 1.65 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Axolotl (View user info) at 2006-04-06 09:33:47 EDT
Jack McCallum's Introduction - http://www.ubersite.com/m/61238
After the Pandemic: Genocide (1): The Variants - http://www.ubersite.com/m/79933
After the Pandemic: Genocide (2): The Armory - http://www.ubersite.com/m/80119
After the Pandemic: Genocide (3): Times Square - http://www.ubersite.com/m/80429
After the Pandemic: Genocide (4): The Highbridge - http://www.ubersite.com/m/80522
After the Pandemic: Genocide (5): Stars and Stripes Forever - http://www.ubersite.com/m/80836
After the Pandemic: Genocide (6): Against the Grain - http://www.ubersite.com/m/80897
After the Pandemic: Genocide (7): Infiltration - http://www.ubersite.com/m/81839
After the Pandemic: Genocide (8): The Crucible - http://www.ubersite.com/m/82506
After the Pandemic: Genocide (9): Justice Under God - http://www.ubersite.com/m/83249
After the Pandemic: Genocide (10): The Feeding - http://www.ubersite.com/m/84178
After the Pandemic: Genocide (11): The Battle Cry of Freedom - http://www.ubersite.com/m/84551
After the Pandemic: Genocide (12): Diaspora - http://www.ubersite.com/m/85869
After the Pandemic: Genocide (13): Over the Hills and Far Away - http://www.ubersite.com/m/85933
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PART FOURTEEN - The Weight
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"We're almost here," Michael said. Jennifer lifted her head up from the seat and looked out of the window blearily, watching the deserted city below her. Their car was high up on a roadway along the side of Garrett Mountain in North Jersey; the eastern Appalachians were visible in the distance miles away.
Down below Route 80 was the abandoned city of Paterson. No person, zombie or human, walked in those streets, and the industrial city was dark and quiet as the sun rose into the sky on the cold late September day.
That evening, it would be ten days since Jennifer had been evacuated from her house. Ten days since the fight started.
"If I die," Michael said. "Don't stay behind. Go, as far as you can, go west."
If I die...
"Do you need your strength?" asked Jennifer baring her scarred arm to Michael. Michael nodded dismally, and prepared to repress his murderous urges. This couldn't go on forever.
Jennifer drew her knife from her pocket and set the blade gently against the soft flesh of her arm. She slid the knife inward, piercing a minor artery, and presenting her arm to Michael.
The seeping blood drew Michael's attention, and he stared at her arm, feeling the desire to feed grow in him. He wanted to consume her flesh, to sate the hunger that tore his intestines apart.
He moved his lips down to her white skin stained with red, and drank Jennifer's blood, gripping her at the wrist and shoulder to force the blood from her arm.
"Stop, it's making me dizzy," Jennifer said.
Michael drew back slowly, breathing heavily, and still staring at the cut. Jennifer looked worried, and tried to pull her hand back. Michael held on, squeezing tighter; a rivulet of blood ran from the wound.
"Michael, let go."
Michael relinquished Jennifer's arm, and she held it close to her. While he sat back in his seat, she bound the cut up with gauze, looking at Michael from the corner of his eye.
As Michael started the car and continued down Route 80 eastward toward Hackensack, he prayed silently that Jennifer would not be hurt. He sucked his teeth, and the blood strengthened him, but Jennifer's fear and nervous pain wounded his insides in a way that the lust for flesh could not feed.
They couldn't go on like this.
Further down Route 80 in Hackensack, the President of the United States looked out upon the defense of the city from the courthouse steps. Vice President Effinger looked pale and gaunt as he stood by his leader, with the various generals and officers in defense of the city clustered around the bridges leading into Hackensack.
"It's almost time," Effinger said, cradling a .45 magnum in his hands. "Bring those zombies on."
"I can't do this, Russell," President Derringer said. "I just can't stay."
"Then leave. Go," Effinger replied.
From the enemy bank of the rocky Hackensack River, the red glare of a rocket lit up the morning and crashed with a burst of flame onto the square before the Court House. The US Army officers began to direct troops into the front.
"I can't abandon this place. You go, Mr. President," Effinger continued. "The battle is starting." Effinger looked out the corner of his eye and looked at the President. Derringer turned, and walked out of the room silently, and Effinger followed him, pistol in hand.
Down on the square the final battle was starting. From the opposite bank zombies laid on their stomachs with rifles, and crouched with bow and arrow, firing their weapons across the stream. The arrows sailed in wide parabolas in the air, bouncing off the asphalt.
The bombs burst in air, thrown by the zombies, as the Americans began firing back across the Hackensack River. General Riley, the highest-ranking officer there not counting Derringer, moved into the square, leading a platoon to the riverside to fire.
President Derringer and Vice President Effinger walked out of the courthouse and looked down at the scene. A mortar burst on the pavement, scattering a group of medics. Out in the distance the Guard and zombies' gun battle raged, exchanging shots over the river.
"Are we over? Are we finished?" Effinger said, gripping his gun. "Is this it?"
A shell exploded in the air, and Derringer shivered and took shelter under a pillar. Metal shards of shrapnel littered the square, and Derringer said, "It's dangerous here, Russell! Let's go!"
"I will not abandon my country!" shouted Effinger.
"Hit the deck!" General Riley cried from down below in the square. Another shell burst, launching fragments everywhere, and severing Riley's legs. He fell in the middle of the road, unmoving. Derringer put a hand to his forehead as the medics ran to the general.
"I'm getting out of here," Derringer said. "I quit."
"There's nowhere to run, John," Russell said. "But go anyway. I'll stay here." He spoke calmly and coolly, stroking the pistol, staring out at the zombies trying to cross the bridge.
Derringer took a final look out at his country as President, and walked away. He disappeared behind the columns of the court house, and left Russell alone in the square. Russell turned back into the courthouse, to find his cabinet.
Russell Effinger, now President Effinger, walked into the lobby of the courthouse, where some officials were poring over military papers and escape plans. Effinger continued wordlessly into an adjoining chamber, to the two remaining members of the Presidential Cabinet, Steven Marquez and Amy Dupont.
Dupont looked shaken, and Marquez seemed as though he wanted to quit like Derringer, but they stood together as one as Effinger approached them.
"The nuclear codes," Effinger said. "Six-one-one-nine-four-four-one-two-seven-one-nine-four-eight-seventeen-seventy-six. Write that down, and let me repeat that."
Marquez began scribbling down the number with a pen.
"Secretary Dupont, you are dismissed," Effinger said to Amy Dupont. She looked at him confused, until he clarified. "You can leave the city. We are going to destroy everything in a twenty mile radius of the city, and you had better leave at once."
"Thank you, Mr. Vice President," Dupont said, her pale face glowing with relief, saluting unconsciously.
"It's Mr. President now. Derringer just resigned."
"It's been a pleasure to serve you," Dupont said, embracing a reluctant Effinger and a scared Marquez. She turned and left out the door.
"All right, Steve," Effinger began. "Let's get this show on the road."
"I have bad news," gulped Marquez.
"What?"
"Today...reports came in," said Marquez. "The city of Tokyo has finally fallen to the Variant C. It's gone, Russell. Zombie cells have awakened in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington DC...we couldn't go home if we wanted to."
"Everything...?" asked Effinger quietly, looking at the floor. "It's all gone?"
"The great plains is the only place free from zombies," Marquez said morosely. "Cincinnati, New Orleans, Denver, Atlanta...every major city in the United States is being overrun with Variant C. There's no escape. We have to stay in Hackensack and fight out until the end."
Effinger closed his eyes for a moment, thinking silently. They were stuck where they were...zombies on all sides.
"Ready the codes, I want the governor of South Dakota on the phone ready to launch our nuclear arsenal," Effinger said. "Every city that has zombies in the US, I want blown into so much dust, along with every Variant C in it."
Marquez got a phone and paper ready.
"As for the world," Effinger said, perusing his mental directory. "Launch the missiles at Rome, at London, Paris, Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi, Johannesburg, Cairo, Baghdad..."
* * *
The final battle. Tobias Collins was at the head of his company of armored Variant C, storming over the Hackensack Bridge, while unarmored swordsmen waded through the river. Bullets snapped all around, but the American resistance was done for.
"Into the city!" called Tobias. Behind him were Thorpe, Von Dorn, and Father Robertson, his advisors and generals. They cried out in their passion, and they were in Hackensack, on the enemy's ground.
"Kill all the humans, wherever they may be found!" Father Robertson ordered. The streams of Variant C rushed into the streets of Hackensack, stopped at some points by heavy machine-gun fire. Tobias found his bodyguard unit and made his way through the industrial, smoky-aired banks of the Hackensack.
The courthouse was up ahead; this was his hour.
* * *
Michael and Jennifer reached the outskirts of Hackensack, and already they could hear the sounds of battle. While black cars carried the VIPS out of the east of the city, they had stopped their car on Route 80, by the off-ramp.
To the west, from where they came, a line of buildings sat on top of a tall forested hill, offices and clinics and hospitals. Eastwards Route 80 continued over the Hackensack River into the Overpeck area, hilly and swampy. The deserted Teaneck armory was northeast. Northwards, the courthouse rose high amongst the apartments, schools, and mid-sized offices in the city center of Hackensack.
A column of smoke rose from before the court house, and the paths of rockets shone in the air, whizzing toward their targets. Michael and Jennifer got out of their car and looked out at the city, listening to the crackle of gunfire and hearing the clatter of zombie armor.
"What are we going to do?" asked Jennifer. She shifted her weight around, staring down at the city; a small trickle of blood ran out of her bandages.
Michael was transfixed by the small line of blood, and walked closer to Jennifer. She drew back, stumbling over her feet.
"Michael, you're scaring me."
He grinded his teeth, and drew the knife from his belt. "Jennifer," he breathed, his eyes shining with the gleam of a hunter. He walked toward where Jennifer was standing on the side of the bridge, and drew closer.
With a growling exhalation, Michael raised his knife and advanced on Jennifer. Jennifer clenched her fists and backed up against the barrier.
"Michael, no!"
As he prepared to strike, Jennifer drew her own knife and shifted her center of gravity. He halted, knife still in the air, and a strange, bemused look on his face. In a fraction of a second, Jennifer slashed a long streak across Michael's chest, tearing through the skin, and pushing him back.
"Don't take a step closer," Jennifer said, holding the knife defensively and shaking involuntarily. The sun was beginning to set. Michael stood his ground, wavering and looking at her from behind his wide brown eyes.
"Jennifer," he said, lowering his knife. She quickly shifted her blade and pulled down her t-shirt's sleeve over her bleeding cut.
"Stay away!" Jennifer said, circling slowly, trying to make her way to the car. Michael stood against the barrier, looking dazed; Jennifer reached the hood of the car, about ten feet from Michael.
"Go, Jen," Michael said in a firm voice. "Go west down the highway, out to Pennsylvania. Just leave, be safe."
Despite the attack of seconds before, Jennifer drew her knife back and said, "What about you?"
"I'll kill you, if I come with you. You have to go, just be safe," Michael replied. "Take the car and drive out to the plains. I'll stay in Hackensack with the defense. It won't be long..."
"Michael..." Jennifer said, pleadingly. "I don't know what to say."
"Good luck, Jennifer," Michael said kindly, losing all semblance of pain or fear. "I'll be fine."
Jennifer climbed into the driver's seat of the car and ignited the engine. As bullets popped in Hackensack just a short distance away, she gunned the engine and began slowly pulling away from Michael. He gave a short wave, and Jennifer waved back.
Michael smiled; Jennifer drove off down the highway, heading west to the great plains. With that she was gone, and Michael returned his gaze to the city. The world was collapsing, and he had a perfect view.
* * *
Tobias Collins stood in the flower gardens in front of the Hackensack Court House, surrounded by his armored soldiers. Stolen US artillery pieces battered away at the buildings, and began blasting apart the office buildings where the remaining Guardsmen were holed up in.
As the Variant C knelt and fired at the windows of the court house, inside the mood was not bleak. Effinger was in the bunker inside the court house, preparing the final defense.
"They think they can defeat the President of the United States," Effinger said maniacally, slamming his hands on the table. "Set the codes, and give the order to launch our arsenal."
"Affirmative," Steven Marquez said, picking up the line to South Dakota. Speaking into the phone, he said, "Confirmation received for all targets. Launch missiles, at Eastern Time 0730 hours."
"Confirmed," came the voice on the other end. "Over and out."
Russell Effinger leaned back in his chair, listening to the sounds of explosions and the heavy, vibrating shock waves coming from above. In his bunker here, he was safe from harm...safe from all holocaust.
"It's the end of the world as we know it," Effinger said, almost sounding relieved. "And I feel fine."
A mortar round struck the courthouse, shaking the building to its very foundations. Effinger looked up contentedly and said, "I love that song."
http://www.jsdangelo.com/panoramas/courthouse/courthouse.html
User Reviews
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2006-04-13 16:16:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-04-11 16:40:44 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:10:24 (#)
Ranking: 2
very nice.
i think i may be one of the only ones who has read EVERY ATP story/series in its entirity. i like them.
this one especially.
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I've read em all too
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I think I have too.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-04-11 16:40:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:10:24 (#)
Ranking: 2
very nice.
i think i may be one of the only ones who has read EVERY ATP story/series in its entirity. i like them.
this one especially.
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I've read em all too
Submitted by awesome_face (user info) at 2006-04-10 16:55:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Where are the Marines?
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2006-04-09 23:11:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 11:57:16 (#)
Ranking: 0
I just finished reading the ENITRE TheCaes' After the Pandemic.
That was some good stuff, there.
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Thanks man.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 17:25:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Well, I'll get cracking on the next one now...
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 11:57:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:10:24 (#)
Ranking: 2
very nice.
i think i may be one of the only ones who has read EVERY ATP story/series in its entirity. i like them.
this one especially.
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I just finished reading the ENITRE TheCaes' After the Pandemic.
That was some good stuff, there.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 11:01:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by yhywstudios (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:57:58 (#)
Ranking: 2
Really nice series.
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Thanks mate
Submitted by yhywstudios (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:57:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Really nice series.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:46:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:10:24 (#)
Ranking: 2
very nice.
i think i may be one of the only ones who has read EVERY ATP story/series in its entirity. i like them.
this one especially.
--
WOO
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:44:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by retrospect (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:11:05 (#)
Ranking: 1
yes it does ax. thats why i rated it negatively. stupid head!
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Thanking god that it's over doesn't show much liking for it.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:13:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:08:06 (#)
Ranking: 2
I will get around to reading all the ATP stories someday.
Submitted by retrospect (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:11:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
yes it does ax. thats why i rated it negatively. stupid head!
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:10:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
very nice.
i think i may be one of the only ones who has read EVERY ATP story/series in its entirity. i like them.
this one especially.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:08:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I will get around to reading all the ATP stories someday.
Preferably when I am sober.
-Dave
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:54:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:49:22 (#)
Ranking: 1
Wow I've been away for a while looks like I've got some catching up to.
I'm on part 11 (I think)
As Arnie would say "I'll be back" once I've caught up. Except of course he probably wouldn't have added that last bit because it kinda ruins it. Anyway I'm rambling now so I'm going.
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No problem, MB.
I'm STILL behind on TheCaes' Pandemic.
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:49:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Wow I've been away for a while looks like I've got some catching up to.
I'm on part 11 (I think)
As Arnie would say "I'll be back" once I've caught up. Except of course he probably wouldn't have added that last bit because it kinda ruins it. Anyway I'm rambling now so I'm going.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:43:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by retrospect (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:37:42 (#)
Ranking: 1
thank god
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Does ATP really have that negative of an effect on you?
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:43:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:39:44 (#)
Ranking: 2
do you really expect anyone to actually click on all those links? i mean, i'm not going to read this, but i'm just curious...
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It's just for reference to the rest of them, so one doesn't have to go clicking through my posts if they wanted to read these.
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:39:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
do you really expect anyone to actually click on all those links? i mean, i'm not going to read this, but i'm just curious...
Submitted by retrospect (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:37:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
thank god
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 09:34:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Almost finished...