When the Stars Fell From the Sky Page 4

  "Andy, you're the team leader now. You run the op," said Chuck, looking behind him.

  "Roger that," he answered, studying a map of the area on his tablet.

  McCain called Dr. Charles Martin, the Assistant Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. On paper, the response teams reported to him and he was responsible for getting resources moving to areas where bio-terror attacks occurred. Chuck let Dr. Martin know what kind of call they were responding to, promising to update him when he had more information. McCain also sent a secure text to Admiral Williams at the CIA. Hopefully, they would be able to get this incident under control before the virus spread anymore.

  #

  Virginia Highlands, Atlanta, Thursday, 1540 hours

  Scotty parked half a block from the crime scene. Both marked and unmarked police cars filled the street with flashing blue lights. The three men dressed in black with rifles slung across their chests approached the command post. APD's SWAT team was also onscene and waiting for some direction. A police major was the officer in charge of the incident.

  Andy introduced himself, Scotty, and Chuck in the CP.

  "I'm Major Thomas," the tall African-American man, with a graying afro, said, shaking their hands. He gave them a quick breakdown of what was happening. "When will the rest of your people get here?" he asked.

  "This is it," McCain told him. "We try and work with the local SWAT or tactical teams on an incident like this."

  "Ok," the major said, clearly not sure that only three men were going to be the answer to this problem. "We were just getting ready to send our SWAT team in to clear the house."

  "We'll handle that," said Fleming. "Then we'll have our forensics team come and assist yours in processing the scene and securing the bodies. One of our goals will be to try and determine how this infection started. Like Chuck said, we'll also need your SWAT guys to help us clear the neighborhood and track these infected people down and eliminate them.

  The major nodded. "I'll talk to them while you deal with the house."

  Fleming pointed up the street to the intersection a block away. An APD cruiser was driving slowly up the street, the officer probably trying to find the zombies. "The infected were seen moving that way?"

  "That's right. All of them," Major Thomas answered.

  From down the street, they all watched the police car turn to the right into a parking lot. A few seconds later, the sound of gunshots and a loud scream rang out. The three CDC officers shook their heads.

  Andy said, "I'm sorry, but if they can't raise that officer on the radio, please don't send any backup to him. They're not going to be able to help him. We need to check the house and make sure no more of them are inside. Then, we'll go and see about him. My guess is, you just lost another officer. It would be best if you could have the uniform guys pull back, stay out of that area, and set up a good perimeter four or five blocks back."

  Chuck notified one of the CDC Clean Up Teams to respond. These were specially trained forensic teams with both local and federal law enforcement experience. They were part of the CDC Enforcement Unit's support team.

  As the three men approached the house, they stopped at a sheet-covered body lying near the street, next to a police car. Scotty pulled the sheet back and saw a decomposing teenage girl. She had a bullet hole in her forehead and three other gunshot wounds to her chest and abdomen. She had bite marks on both of her forearms.

  "Look at the decomposition on this one," said Smith. "She's been dead for a while, maybe a couple of weeks. Of course, the virus kept her going until today."

  When they got to the front of the house, Chuck pulled the sheet aside from the body lying at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the front door. A young police officer stared back at him through lifeless eyes. The flesh from his face, neck, and arms had been ripped off, leaving jagged wounds. They could see the open fracture to the back of his skull where he had landed and the corresponding blood and brain splatter on the brick stairs. At least he would not be returning as a Z with that head wound, McCain thought.

  Andy took the point, put Scotty behind him, and had Chuck bringing up the rear in their building clearing stack. They searched the house quickly but thoroughly. They only found the one body lying just inside the front entrance. It was a large house and they did not have time to look for other evidence. The Clean Up Team would take care of that. Now, it was time to track down the Zs.

  #

  Virginia Highlands, Atlanta, Thursday, 1600 hours

  A block from where the incident started, Virginia Avenue crossed North Highland Avenue. This was an area that contained restaurants, banks, convenience stores, coffee shops and the Highland Hardware Store. The six zombies, drawn to the noise and movement of the busy intersection, were making their presence known.

  The three original zombies from the house saw several potential victims in the parking lot of Marie's American Diner. The early eating crowd was just starting to arrive. The infected middle-aged man and his two infected sons pounced on a couple who had just parked and were walking towards the restaurant.

  The three zombies had them on the ground before they had a chance to react. A younger couple was just coming out of Marie's and saw the life and death struggle taking place in the parking lot. The young man saw the spurting blood and wanted to run away but his girlfriend said, "Do something."

  He didn't know where to start but he balled his hands into fists and walked towards the smallest of the teenage zombies. The three Zs had ripped open the throats of the husband and wife and were bent over, chewing like buzzards on the side of the road. The good Samaritan aimed a kick at one of the zombie's ribs and yelled for them to stop.

  Without hesitation, the teenage zombie launched himself at the young man, easily knocking him down and biting his face and throat, tearing open the skin. The girlfriend quickly dialed 911, but started screaming as she watched her boyfriend die. The other two zombies left their victims and went after her. She was soon on the asphalt, as well, her lifeblood pumping out of her and her phone falling from her hand.

  A 911 operator answered the emergency call from the now dead girl's phone, "911, what's your emergency?"

  The girl's final gasp, accompanied by the growling and snarling of the zombies was the only answer to the police dispatcher.

  Officer Tyrone Woodson was driving slowly, looking for signs of the infected. He had known and liked Officer Demetrius Howard. The young rookie had had the makings of a good cop but was now lying a block away, covered with a white sheet. Tyrone was angry, wanting someone to pay.

  There, in the parking lot of Marie's Diner, he saw them. Five people were bent over several bodies and ripping at them with their teeth and hands. Woodson turned in and sprung out of the cruiser, drawing his pistol. A group of bloody, growling people, both men and women, got to their feet and started walking towards him.

  The officer raised the Smith & Wesson 9mm and ordered, "Stop! Get down on the ground, now!"

  They kept coming, straight towards him, snapping their teeth open and closed. He sighted in on the closest one, a middle-aged man covered with blood. Head shots. They told us we have to make head shots on the zombies. He shot and missed. He fired again and missed again. In his frustration, he resorted to what he knew best. He lowered the sights to the man's chest and fired three times, making good hits but not stopping him.

  Suddenly, Tyrone felt hands grabbing him. He never saw the two that had came up from behind. He felt teeth biting at his arm and neck. He shoved one of them away but by now, the rest of the group was on top of him, forcing him to the pavement. The officer screamed as hands and teeth ended his life.

  Additional screams erupted from the other side of the street as the three police zombies converged on Poncho's Tacos Mexican Restaurant. The open-air dining area was already full as people were enjoying a late afternoon margarita or beer with their chips and salsa. The three infected uniformed officers tore into the crowd. They were able to bite severa
l customers who managed to escape, but were now infected, as well. These did not make it far before the bio-terror virus claimed them, too.

  It was a mad rush, as people tried to get out of the path of the crazed officers. People tripped over each other and knocked others down in their haste to get away. The zombie police officers fell on their victims who were not quite fast enough.

  Billy Dixon had hoped to be finished by now as he pulled his Dodge Ram into the parking lot of the Highland Hardware Store. Mrs. Webb was one of his best customers, though, and he would work a little overtime to keep her happy. Billy's Renovations and Repairs had a reputation for quality work at reasonable prices. Word of mouth kept him supplied with plenty of business and he'd never had to advertise.

  Billy also never minded coming to Highland Hardware. The hardware store was just the right size. It was not as large as one of the big chains but it had everything he needed. Plus, Sasha worked there. Billy had never been able to get the nerve up to ask her out but he always enjoyed talking to her.

  As he was pulling open the door to the store, he heard yelling and saw people running out of the Mexican restaurant over to his left, on the other side of the intersection. Horns honked as people ran into the street, forcing cars to slam on their brakes. Maybe a fight or some people who've had a little too much Happy Hour, he thought, continuing inside the business.

  This had been an easy assignment. Mrs. Webb just needed a new ceiling fan installed. It would normally be a thirty-minute job and he'd be on his way. The fan did not come with the extension pole, however, so he had to get one to finish up.

  Billy chatted with Sasha for a few minutes and paid for the part. He knew it was time for the business to close, so he said goodbye and turned to leave. The front door suddenly burst open and an effeminate young black man ran inside.

  "Somebody call 911! The police are attacking us! They got my friend and I think they killed him." He started crying, holding his hand over a wound on his forearm as blood seeped between his fingers.

  Sasha said, "Slow down. What do you mean? Why were the police attacking you? Was your friend resisting arrest or something? And how did you get hurt?"

  The crying man looked behind him, making sure no one had followed him into the store, and said, "No, Jermaine and I were just eating at Poncho's and..."

  There was a loud bang as a short, round police officer ran into the door and bounced off of the glass, leaving a smear of red. Billy saw the blood on the officer's face, neck, and uniform.

  "That officer's hurt," said Billy. "What did you and your friend do to him?" he asked the man.

  "Nothing," he sobbed, "he attacked us and bit my arm and...and..." He collapsed to the floor, let out a groan, and became motionless.

  Billy and Sasha looked at each other. They had been the only two people in the store and Sasha was just about to close up for the night. She picked up the phone to call 911.

  The injured officer continued to pound on the door. It sounded like he was making a growling sound. Billy saw his mouth opening and closing and noticed that the wound to his neck was a large, deep tear. Instantly, everything fell into place. Dixon had been following the zombie virus story on the news and reading as much as he could find on the internet, but this was his first contact.

  The young man on the floor of the store started moving again and making noises. His eyes opened and he began trying to get to his feet. Billy looked around the store. He needed a weapon and fast.

  "Sasha, I think this is the zombie virus. Stay back and don't open that door."

  He saw what he was looking for, hanging on the far wall. Billy rushed over and pulled an axe down from the display. Sasha held the phone to her ear. "The police have me on hold," she said. "What's happening?"

  "I think he's infected and maybe that cop, too. I don't want to hurt him, but if he's got that disease, he can kill us both," Billy said hefting the axe to a ready position.

  The young man finally managed to get clumsily to his feet, shuffling towards Sasha. His eyes were glazed over and a low growl came from deep in his throat. Billy could see the jagged wound to his left forearm, the blood slowly oozing out.

  "You need to stop right there," Dixon ordered, running to intercept him. "I don't want to hit you but I will."

  The infected young man was ten feet away and started moving faster towards his victim. Sasha backed up two feet but found herself against the counter. She opened her mouth to scream with nothing coming out. The zombie reached for her, his growl getting more intense.

  Billy ran up behind him, brought the axe up high, and then down. The blade impacted on top of his head and buried itself inside his skull. The zombie fell to his knees and then to his face, the blood pooling around his head. Billy jerked the axe free and prepared to strike again but there was no more movement from the body. Dixon was breathing hard and his hands were shaking from the adrenaline. He looked at Sasha.

  "I'm sorry," he said. "I told him to stop. I didn't want him to hurt you."

  Tears ran down her face. Her mouth was open and she tried to speak but had lost her voice. After a moment, she managed, "I know. Thank you. You had to do it. But what now? Is he really dead?"

  The banging at the front door continued. Now, they saw several other bloodied people gathered around the door, trying to get in. Thankfully, the zombies had not figured out how to pull open a door. Just to be safe, Sasha ran over and turned the bolt, locking it.

  Gunshots exploded from nearby. A long string of shots and then silence. The zombies at the door turned and moved in the direction of the shooting.

  "Is there another way out of here?"

  "My car's parked in the back," she said."

  #

  Virginia Highland, Atlanta, Thursday, 1615 hours

  APD's SWAT Team had two six-man assault elements suited up and ready to go. Andy talked to the SWAT commander and asked him to split them into three four-man teams. He, Scotty, and Chuck would each lead one, allowing them to cover more ground.

  Each of the CDC officers briefed their teams and went over their particular rules of engagement. In the normal law enforcement world, shooting unarmed people was not acceptable. In this new world where the zombie virus had been introduced, things had changed. A bite, scratch, or even contact with the infected's bodily fluids would probably be fatal and lead to the creation of another Z. The rules of engagement for dealing with zombies were simple. Any violent or aggressive persons suspected of being infected were shot in the head.

  Andy gave each team an area of responsibility. They would all move up to the intersection of Virginia Avenue and North Highland Avenue. Fleming's group would work to the right, onto North Highland, clearing businesses of infected and trying to locate survivors. Smith's group would continue straight across Virginia Avenue. McCain would take his team left onto North Highland Avenue, clearing out that area.

  Initially, the teams would all be close enough to support each other if needed. Andy had asked the major to have any available prisoner transport vans standing by at the command post. They could help rescue people, and worst-case scenario, the officers.

  Andy looked over at the other two teams of tactical officers led by Chuck and Scotty. He motioned with his hand and all three teams moved towards the intersection. Fleming and his four SWAT officers moved in single file up the right sidewalk. McCain's team was on the left sidewalk and Smith's group was in the middle of the street.

  A news helicopter was suddenly hovering overhead. A second one quickly joined the first and they began circling the scene. I guess we're going to be on the news again, Andy thought.

  As the officers approached Marie's Diner up ahead on the right, they could all hear the sounds of growling and snarling. A wall and several trees prevented them from seeing into the parking lot until they got closer. They could see the APD cruiser, or at least the back half of it. The growling got louder and the unmistakable sound of cracking bones carried down to the officers.

  Rifle against his shou
lder, Andy led the SWAT members up to the wall. He looked at the grim-faced Atlanta officers and said, "Let's get some payback."

  They stepped around the corner and quickly surveyed the chaos in the parking lot. Three bodies were sprawled on the asphalt and had been ripped apart. Six infected were feeding on them. There were several blood pools scattered around the location where others had gotten bit and had turned before they were completely consumed by the feeding zombies. There were also another five Zs on the far side of the parking lot moving away to look for other victims.

  The movement of the officers coming around the corner got the attention of the closest infected who were feeding. They responded by climbing to their feet and charging the police. Andy's suppressed M4 exploded two heads. The SWAT officers began firing their unsuppressed rifles, the loud report echoing through the intersection. The first group of six were down.

  The infected on the far side of the parking lot turned and began moving towards Fleming's team. Two of the zombies started running. The SWAT officers tried to hit the running zombie's heads without any luck. Two of them made torso shots with no effect.

  "Shoot the ones that are walking," he ordered. He shot the two runners, dropping them just ten feet from where the officers stood.

  A momentary pause. Marie's parking lot was clear for the moment. The officers did quick reloads and then moved around the police car to look for the officer. The remains of Officer Woodson were still there. His head had been almost completely ripped from his body and flesh of both arms had been eaten to the bone. One of the SWAT officers turned and vomited behind the police car.