David Bernstein - Machines of the Dead

“Do you have access to the weapons store?”

“No. I’ve only got my sidearm on me at all times.” Kevin patted the gun strapped to his hip. “That’s it. Only when I’m on active guard duty do I get an M4, and I don’t go back on until the morning.”

“The higher-ranking guards, do they always carry machine guns? Or do they return them to the arsenal?”

“All weapons, excluding knives and sidearms, are returned to the weapons store after a shift. Reynolds orders.”

“Okay,” Jack said, getting up off the bed. “So after we have Reynolds, we’ll need to head to the arsenal. Get some guns, then get the people out of C-wing. After that, we go to the escape tunnel and get the hell out of here.”

“Let’s just hope it goes that smoothly.”

“Wait here,” Jack told him. “I’m going to get Zaun. Don’t go anywhere or talk to anyone.”

Jack left the room and went down the hall to Zaun’s door. Like before, it was unlocked. He went in and saw that Zaun was still asleep. Going over to him, Jack started saying his name and shaking him.

“Jack?” Zaun croaked. “What’s going on? What time is it?”

“Get up and get dressed, take your jacket with you, but don’t wear it. Roll i t up and keep it tucked under your arm.”

“What’s going on, man?”

“Trust me,” Jack insisted, his hand on the doorknob. “Just do what I said. Meet me in my place as soon as you’re dressed.” He opened the door and headed back to his room.

A few minutes later, Zaun entered Jack’s room, and was quickly brought up to speed.

“Man,” Zaun said, “from one screwed up situation to another. This Reynolds guy sounds like a real scumbag.”

To Kevin, Jack asked, “Are you sure you can do this? I mean kill your fellow-”

“They’re not fellow anything, Jack,” the kid said, cutting Jack off. “They’re as guilty and as evil as Doc Reynolds. Orders are orders, but they all know what he’s doing would never be sanctioned. He’s got to be paying them off.”

“But still,” Jack continued, “these are fellow soldiers, human beings.”

“Killing isn’t new to me. It was just always the real enemy, so to speak, that was in my sights.” Kevin put his head down, seeming to be thinking something. Jack looked to Zaun, then back at Kevin. Talk was cheap, and Jack knew when the shit hit the fan, if it did, Kevin might have to kill fellow Americans, soldiers.

Kevin looked up, caught Jack’s stare. “As far as I’m concerned, the men working here are the real enemy. And I’m pretty sure after you guys, I’d be next on their list of test-subjects.”

Jack saw the look in his eyes, and knew the kid was for real.

“Okay,” Zaun said. “We’re ready to roll.”

“I want to bring Lopez in on this,” Kevin said.

“No way,” Zaun said, shaking his head. “Just us. Keep it simple.”

“She’s a friend; a good person, and doesn’t deserve to get stuck down here.”

“I don’t know, Kevin,” Jack said.

“I’ve served with her. She’s a stand up gal. Never got involved with anything shady. She’s got a daughter. Let me ask her. Tell her what’s going on.”

“No,” Zaun insisted. “We can’t take that chance.”

“I won’t do this without her. If she shows any sign that she’s going to tell Chambers, Doc or the others, I’ll tie her up. But she’s going to be on our side and we could use all the hands we can get. I won’t leave her here to be tortured and experimented on.”

“Splitting up now is not a good idea,” Zaun said.

“The two of you can take care of Reynolds. You get him, and Chambers will fall in line. No need even to go after him. I’d give you my sidearm, but I’ll need it in case Lopez doesn’t want to go along.”

“I have this,” Jack said, going over to his bed, lifting the mattress, and producing a small steak knife.

“Better than nothing and more than enough to take Reynolds with,” Kevin said. “I better get going. Lopez and I will meet you two at the weapons store. If you get there and I’m not present, then grab a few extra goodies and head to C-wing. I’ll meet you there.”

Jack didn’t like this at all. With the three of them going about business together, they had a better chance, but the kid wouldn’t budge. Once they had Reynolds, Jack would feel better. T he bottom line was: if Kevin didn’t make it, it was the kid’s own fault, though he couldn’t condemn the guy for having a heart.

“Good luck,” Jack told him. Kevin nodded to both men, then left.

“Ready to do this?” Zaun asked.

“Yeah,” Jack said. He handed Zaun the knife. “You take this; you’ll make better use of it.”

Zaun smiled. “That I will.”

Before leaving the room, Jack asked for a minute. He didn’t want to think or hesitate when it came time to do what he had to do. Just act. Or react. He would have time to think later, to deal with his emotions. He was about to embark on a journey that could be filled with bloodshed and pain. Could he prepare himself, having never been through such a thing? He had never served in the military. He didn’t grow up in a bad neighborhood where people died on a weekly basis. Jack had been in a few scuffles during his life, a few fistfights, but that was it. Was he really cut out to be a killer? No, he wasn’t, because he wasn’t a killer. He was a survivor, and someone who would defend himself. The people in the bunker meant him and his friends harm. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill him, torture him, so he couldn’t hesitate either. He needed to be strong, use a controlled viciousness if there was such a thing, because remaining levelheaded during combat was important. Important during any great undertaking. He needed to make it out alive and intact, for all of their sakes, including his sister’s.

He would see her again.

Zaun put his jacket on, and placed the knife inside it.

“These men are well-trained,” Jack warned his friend, looking him in the eye. “Professional soldiers, ready to kill.”

“Jack, after what I’ve been through, how far we’ve made it, I’m not about to pussy out. I’m no lab rat or human pin-cushion. It’s us against them.”

The look in Zaun’s eyes was one of fierceness. If Jack didn’t know any better, he’d swear the man had killed before, and maybe he had. The guy had been in that building for a while with all sorts of crazy shit going on. It wasn’t out of the question that his friend had to defend himself. Maybe Zaun looked at the undead as people, and as far as the man was concerned, he had killed already. It was a good mindset to have. Jack felt a little better at seeing how serious his normally non-serious friend was. There was no doubt in Jack’s mind that the guy was ready to do whatever needed to be done.

He only hoped he could do the same.

Kevin knocked on Maria Lopez’ door, announced himself, and was told to come in. Roger Smithford, a high-ranking C-wing guard, was sitting in a chair. Of all the times to have a guest, he thought. Maria was sitting cross-legged on her bed, dressed in her pajamas. He knew Smithford and her were friends, but there was no way he was going to trust the guy. He thought about turning around, forgetting about Maria, and leaving with Jack and Zaun.

“What’s up?” Maria asked.

“I… um…” H e couldn’t get the words out, his mind caught between wanting to leave and wanting to stay. He turned to stare at Smithford.

“Meyers,” the man said, nodding.

Why the hell was the guy here?

Turning back to Maria, he said, “I have something I need to talk to you about. Something private.”

“You don’t look so good,” Maria said.

Smithford sat back, looking as if he hadn’t heard a word Kevin had said.