When the virus hit the Western World, the automatic reaction was to blame someone in the Middle East . Old prophesies were dug up, and conspiracy theories sounded even truer.
But, within a day and a half, the virus hit several Middle Eastern counties ending much of that suspicion. Would they hit their own country, their neighbors, or many who shared the same religion?
Then with the Middle East facing vast casualties, suspicions turned towards Israel Israel United States India
Regardless, theories were varied, but the death spread so quickly, not much time to research any of them. Then again, who needs evidence in global politics?
This region will eventually be names “Ground Zero.6 – Middle East ” by the western media.
***
Tzur Peretz is currently standing on the very edge of the hot zone. Born in Israel , and educated in the United States
When he originally enlisted after college, it was to defend Israel
The virus reproduces quickly through its carriers.
On the upside, the dead don’t fire back or drive car bombs.
Tzur carefully takes aim. Bullets aren’t under short supply yet, but it this does on for month, supplies might run slow. Depends on how badly the nations who produce the world’s weapons are affected. The prices have already tripled.
Looking through the scope he locates an isolated zombie standing behind a burned out car left over from a previous protest. The zombie’s not looking at them, he’s just looking.
While making a few adjustments to his rifle as he lays motionless and calms his breathing, he reflects on what he knows so far. He thinks, “What’s that guy in Kentucky
Some zombies travel in “packs” or “swarms” and migrate, some seem to pick a spot and hang out until attracted to a new spot. A loner of sorts. Others are more social so they cluster together. Some are more listless than others. Some zombie’s seem to have a lot more energy. Not yet known whether it’s connected to their energy level before they died.
Zombie biology and sociology are still in their infancy.
The laser pinpoints the male zombie’s forehead. Even without the pointer, he could make this shot. Luckily all the zombie movies of the past taught everyone what to do. A shot to the head is more efficient. Otherwise, it takes five to fifteen good body shots to take them down. They don’t seem to feel pain and many of the internal organs are barely functional anyways.
Between breaths Tzur pulls the trigger. The zombie’s head jolts and splatters, its body falls back behind the burned out wreck. That’s been about seven today so far. The marksman scans the terrain and doesn’t see any other single undead standing out in the open. Taking his eye away from the scope he looks down to the other end of the shipping container. There’s a second soldier, an American, spotting for a mortar team positioned on the flat ground behind them. Tzur watches.
The militaries of the various countries affected by these break-outs are making up tactics as they go. Right now, single zombies are taken out by gunmen like Tzur. If there’s a pack of maybe six or more, then something heavier like a mortar, bazooka, or RPG should be used. Flamethrowers are good in limited pack situations. Twenty or more, maybe a helicopter or land-based rocket launcher. One hundred or more, bring out the napalm. Basically, the accountants are still working on the formulas for the most cost effective way to deal with the various sizes of zombie concentrations.
The spotter is holding binoculars in his right hand and a radio in the other, giving directions to his team. He he’s something out in no man’s land. Tzur looks back through his scope. He quickly sees several zombies appear through the archway of a partially blown out structure to his right and out a pretty good distance. Multiples so this is not Tzur’s responsibility. Both genders, various sizes, or ages.
A pop sounds behind them. A few moments later the building’s façade crumbles under the explosion, blowing up and burying the targets. The mortar landed right in the archway. Looks like seven or eight disposed of quickly. “Good shot”, says to himself, but loud enough for the spotter to overhear.
“You speak English?” asks the American.
“It was my first language,” Tzur answers louder this time. “Buffalo , New York
The American stands up and walks down to the other end of the shipping container. “I’m from the Cleveland
Tzur stays up on current events, especially these last two weeks. “Sorry, I assume you’d rather be defending your home.” The southern half of Ohio
Doesn’t seem to be any more movement on the other side of the fence.
“It’s cool, we’re allies,” says the desert camouflaged soldier. He sits down on a metal storage box near Tzur. “When they pulled me out of Afghanistan I assumed I was going home to hold the lines in Ohio or Indiana
Tzur sits up crossing his legs under himself. “Tzur Peretz. Good to meet you.” He reaches out and shakes hands.
“Arnold U.S.
“Sometimes they’re the same people.” Tzur pauses. “It’s the kids and women zombies who are still tough to kill.”
“As far as I’m concerned, they’re already dead. You’re doing them a favor.”
“I know, everyone says the same, it’d just be easier if I couldn’t see what they used to be.” Tzur pauses again. “Besides, when this is all over and they count the dead, the story will be about the number of women and children and elderly killed by the Israeli Army. Bullets between the eyes and napalm.”
Thirteen days in it seems the vast majority of people, at least the vocal ones are calling it the End of the World”. Armageddon. The End Times. The Apocalypse.
Panic is taking over. A lot of people are getting killed by friendly fire no where near any of the six current hot zones. Anyone with a limp needs to proceed carefully.
A lot of stories of mangled dead bodies too. Again, no where near the infected areas, but as many are quotes, “can never be too careful.”
The two soldiers continue to talk. “The second the virus was discovered in Iran Israel
“Sorry for saying this, luckily you’ve had a few infected in Israel …,” speculates Arnold
“There are still plenty who want to blame Israel , or the US Arnold
“They’re saying we’ve lost 2 million back in the U.S. Arnold
“Agreed,” with a smirk.
“Besides, why would Israel also strike China , Russia , India , and Germany …well, Germany Arnold
“Until I hear otherwise from those who know what they’re talking about, I want to believe it’s a freak natural occurrence. So far all the outbreaks have been in the Northern Hemisphere. I could be a weather or temperature thing.”
***
The truck pulls up outside an apartment building. It has all the markings of the Israeli military. The street’s already being blocked off by police forces. An ambulance is being kept away despite the need for medical help inside. Not safe yet. Eight soldiers jump out of the back dressed in riot gear. They line up on the side of the road awaiting instruction.
It’s been over 24 hours since they last slept. As soon as one location is green lighted, another location is radioed in to be cleared.
Their gear was designed for dealing with violent protestors, but the boots, body armor and padding, and visored helmets serve well to protect against the bites of zombies carrying the virus in their saliva. Each carries multiple firearms, everything from handguns, to shotguns, to rifles. Each has their advantage in open air conflict and indoor, suburban combat. Grenades have their use too.
Right now it looks like an indoor extermination.
***
On a hilltop not too many miles from where Tzur and Arnold talk, a tractor trailer and a couple of jeeps come to a stop along a dirt road. The area is off limits so no onlookers. They too have military markings. On the back of the flatbed trailer a long tube.
The personnel proceed to set up a tent several yards from the trailer.
***
“Can you believe those Chinese?” asks Arnold
“I think a lot of the countries were considering using nukes early on not knowing how bad it might get…might still if it keeps spreading.”
“Nukes only help when it’s concentrated in an isolated area. Once it spreads the bomb’s useless.” Arnold
“You make it sound like a viable option,” counters Tzur. “The UN thinks they also killed millions of uninfected innocents.”
“I don’t like it either, but many of them would have been bit eventually anyways. Dropping US nukes on Kentucky and Ohio Arnold America and Israel
Tzur repositions the rifle across his lap. “One bullet. One zombie. One day at a time.”
***
The soldier inch up the stairwell till they reach the third floor. Some of the others are already clearing out the first and second floors. Supposedly all the uninfected have been removed but that’s no guarantee. They’re there to immobilize the undead and rescue the living who are too scared to move from their hiding spots.
Over the microphones in their helmets they hear the first status update (translated into English), “Target one neutralized, apartment 2b
The three soldiers assign to the third floor open the door to the main hallway. The lights are still working. Halfway down the hallway stands a figure of an adult male, dressed from the waist down. His back is turned. The lead soldier calls out, “Halt!”
The man turns. His skin is pale. He’s been bit in several locations on his arms and chest so it’s probably not the only one on this floor. He received it from someone else. He starts to trot down the hallways towards them.
The soldier raises his handgun which has been drawn since before he entered the building. The other two ready themselves in case he somehow misses, or the gun jams. Something weird. As he aims and waits for the right distance, he thinks to himself, “At least some of them make it easy and don’t hide.”
A second update comes of their helmet, a woman’s voice, “Targets #2 and 3 eliminated. Apartment 1
The lead soldier on the third floor gently pulls the trigger was his aim follows the pace of the galloping dead. The bullet enters the left side of its head. He stops running as his minimal brain function interrupt, but he doesn’t drop. He just stands there kind of leaning against the hallway wall.
“No sense taking a chance.” He pulls the trigger again. Dead center forehead. The zombie collapses backwards.
The soldier directly behind the lead presses his comm button while the lead re-aims. They don’t know if there are others. “Target four neutralized. Third floor hallway. We’re starting with the apartments next.”
Since they aren’t allowed to do anything alone, all three stay together. Nothing smaller than pairs. The first apartment they enter is trashed. Minimal decoration and design. Objects on the ground that don’t belong there. Chairs knocked over. No blood, no bodies. They fan out and check around each nook, kicking open closet doors. Nothing.
They hear a grunt from the back bedroom. They begin to move in that direction still making sure to clear each spot between here and there. One of the other soldiers finds themselves in the lead as they inch down the apartment hallway. First bedroom clear. Second bedroom next.
The new lead kicks in the door while the other two aim and ready themselves for anything to come running out. They have yet to kill an innocent, and don’t want to start today. Nothing chargers them, but they do hear a louder grunt inside.
Stepping inside they find one of the top three things on the list of what they expected to see. An older, overweight woman laying on the bed in her nightgown. From all the prescription drug bottles and home health care paraphernalia on the tables they suspect she was bed-ridden before she turned.
Died in bed and turned. Couldn’t get out of bed before death, can’t get out of bed now.
Over the radio, “Target 5 is down. Apartment 2d.”
The lead soldier aims his rifle and pauses. He makes the mistake of thinking of her as someone’s mother or grandmother. Writhing in bed she can’t get out. Arms are waiving around and she’s gasping, hissing at them. Hungry like the rest of them.
“Just go. You can’t think about it,” says the third soldier to the lead.
The younger man pulls the trigger quickly twice just as the bathroom door pops open. Her stagnant blood splatters from behind her head and onto the pillow as he looks towards the commotion to his right. Meanwhile, her body goes limp.
The third soldier swings to fire at the charging figure. No time to aim, first shot misses, next two are body shots. Fourth in the neck as the surprise zombie barrels into the lead soldier. The lead falls under the weight of his assailant, his feet tangled up.
The third soldier carefully aims this time making sure the bullet doesn’t go through to his friend. The fifth bullet is to the side of the head.
The ranking soldier, who had been taking watch at the rear in the doorway, fully enters the room. “What the hell…”
The smallish zombie was a teenager at the time of his death. Grandson maybe? A lot of energy and speed. Freshly dead?
The zombie goes motionless, teeth buried into the flack vest of the downed soldier.
The third soldier leans over grabbing the teen by the back of his shirt pulling him off of his partner. The teen is dead-dead. “Next time we check the bathroom before we focus on the grandma.”
The ranking soldier just looks on, shaking his head. He makes the call. “Targets 6 and 7. Last bedroom of apartment 3b
