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Chronicles

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Finished works:
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   About a Woman
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Found

Chapter 26

The quarantine passed and Brian and Kaylee were held over, no explanation was given, Kaylee woke up and her companions were gone, for Brian he just knew time had passed beyond when he should have been released. Both raised the subject with their capturers but for Brian he didn't see anyone other than the nurses who were taking care of him and Kaylee got nowhere with the attendant who brought her food. She did get her newspaper as usual and the attendant also pushed a small radio through her food slot without explanation. Kaylee contented herself with the local news and the control that radio tuning could provide. She was also fed three, better, meals that first day. That night as she lay down to sleep she called and spoke with Walt and Flo again. A brief conversation revealed that they had been expecting Kaylee and Brian to be released and had waited in the lobby of the secured wing for hours that morning, before being told that both of the wards would be held over until further notice.

Walt had informed the doctor they were talking to that he was going to sleep on what the hospital said, and then perhaps he would talk to the news shows, bloggers and online paper. The doctor nodded, seemingly finding no threat in what Walt said. Flo added that she felt the doctor was under some duress as well, there were two armed soldiers loitering in the background, who had come in with the doctor when he spoke to Walt an Flo. The whole affair, so Flo said, was rather menacing. Both promised to try visiting tomorrow again.

The sixth day of their confinement came and they were both moved into a shared suite, the food quality improved again and Brian's astonishment at seeing Kaylee fully recovered from her ordeal was exceeded only by Kaylee's at seeing Brian walking around without his tell tale limping.

The living area included a television, a couch, love seat, various lamps and a bookshelf filled with books. Meals were still brought by attendants, no longer in bio-containment suits, pushed through a slot onto a counter top, through a heavy window that Kaylee, perhaps, could have squeezed through if she tried. The attendants demeanor also shifted, they behaved more like Kaylee and Brian were guests in their hotel, than prisoners in their hospital. Every day attendants came in and changed the sheets on the beds and cleaned the rooms. An armed guard stepped inside the room with them, however he was anything but menacing, he spoke with both Kaylee and Brian, often joking around and lingering after the cleaners had left. His name was Frank and he asked many questions about what had happened to them and why they thought they were being held over.

Kaylee and Brian were honest and said they didn't know why they were being held, but both conjectured that it was because they had a close call with a super zombie of some strength. Frank said he had been told Brian was lame in one leg and that both had been beat up pretty badly, neither seemed to be true to him. Brian said he had been in recovery from the damage he had taken fighting his first super zombie, but it was true, he seemed to be better off now than before he was wounded again fighting Jake. True he was still recovering, but his leg didn't give him as much problem moving around as it had before.

At night Brian whispered quiet warnings to Kaylee, trying to get around anyone who might be listening in on their conversations. Brian was afraid they both might disappear. He had known men who fought close to the front lines, those who took down a lot of zombies, to just go missing and the only explanation was that they were transferred. Rumors ran rife in the military and Brian's unit had not been immune to them. The first sign that someone might go missing was recovering from their wounds faster than normal. Kaylee looked completely unwounded, her cuts and bruises from the fighting were completely gone. As for Brian, wounds that should have kept him in bed and then in therapy for months to come had healed to the point that he was mobile. The team of doctors continued to draw blood from both patients almost daily, and they would only say it was for ongoing tests when asked.

Although Kaylee's phone had run out of charge, they were able to have monitored calls with Flo and Walt. Both sides were relieved to talk to each other and Walt promised to keep pressure on the hospital to release the pair. The doctors would not give Kaylee a release date when she asked. After another four days of confinement and they were finally brought to separate interviews with government officials, Brian was chosen to be interviewed first.

Brian sat in the well appointed conference room eying the officials in front of him. There were nominally three there who actually mattered; Dr Nathan Kelly from the civilian government and his counterpart Dr. Karem Jones a captain in the Army, who both worked closely with anyone who had encountered a 'super' zombie and lived to tell about it. Finally there was Frank Targon, who Brian was surprised to see was their friendly guard, who had come into the room during the daily cleaning. The man smiled and shook Brian's hand, something the doctors declined to do. In addition to the three people asking the questions there was a secretary typing notes and an armed military policemen. Brian had met both of the doctors before when he had survived his first encounter with a super zombie.

Freezing his face in a set smile Brian faced his interviewers.

“Brian”, began Frank, “Can I talk straight with you?” Frank's tone was exactly the same as when he had been their watchman in the room; open, honest and direct.

“I think that would be best.”, Brian answered.

Nodding to the doctors, Franks said, “Good. I have always thought it best to strike to the heart of the matter. These days we do not have time to be as diplomatic as we once were. We have observed that you have certain characteristics that we have seen in those who have fought super zombies before and lived. You are in the military and, unless I miss my guess, you have had heard rumors about people who fight the dead. Right?”

Sighing, Brian said, “Yes. They disappear. Transferred.”

“All too true. Usually they are rotated out and examined carefully before we decide what to do with them. These individuals seem to have an edge after awhile, the ability to pull off things most people cannot. Fast reactions, keen hearing and above all they share a trait of healing very quickly. Bones heal in days, cuts in hours or even minutes. Its amazing really what some of them can do.”

“So I am to disappear now too?”

Frank paused, “Direct. I like that. Do you want to disappear?”

“No.”, Brian said firmly, thinking of Kaylee and the battles he had already fought, he did not relish going into the fight once again.

Smiling Frank said, “Are you sure? What do you have here? No family, few friends and only a job as an overworked detective solving petty crimes done by people who should be concentrating on the race's survival instead of their own?”

“I have friends, I could have a family...I have Kaylee.”, Brian said.

“And you would keep your job?”, asked Dr. Kelly.

“It is a good job. I think I can do it well and people need to feel someone is trying to help them. Without a police force, even when we need people at the fronts, without some discipline to be maintained in the cities.”

“Well Brian, I agree.”, said Frank.

“You do? That's it?”

“No that is not it by any means, however think about Jake for a moment, would you.”, Mentioning the name sent a shiver up Brian's spine, it had been a close call, “If one Jake can infiltrate Des Moines, another could. In fact, we know there are other 'Jakes' out there. The more clever ones, like Jake, trade blood for small hard to get items that only they can get from the unrecoverable territory. The zombie gets stronger, has a reliable source of sustenance and the black market lives on. Its been twenty months since 'Z-day', and how hard is it to come by drugs? Teddy was using heroin, not some weed grown in a ditch. Heroin. Think about that. I have no doubt the original providers of the drug for people like Teddy are long gone and I also have no doubt that someone is still making the drug. And that is just one drug. As a policeman you know how archaic heroin is. Meth is easier to produce by far, the ingredients are commonplace at one time and easy to find. Now the ingredients are on the black market and the users are willing to do anything, anything, to get them.”

Brian nodded, “So you want me to stay in place and find the drug users? I don't know if I want to be part of the narcotics department.”

“No, no don't misunderstand, drugs are just part of the problem. The overall problem is growing corruption, growing discontent and people who feel they need a break and not only need one, but deserve one. When you said that the cities still need order and discipline you were spot on. You need to fight this rot. We do not have many resources behind the lines and the government has been thinking of diverting a special agent or two to combat this growing problem. Now we won't need to, its a win-win for everyone. If you will do the job. If you will agree to the conditions we set.”

“There is always a catch, I knew that.”, said Brian.

Jake winked at Brian and smiled again, “We are special operatives, we are at the beck and call of the government when they need us. For you, from your file, you were already at the governments beck and call. You had just been stationed here while you recovered. The specifics of the conditions are as follows.”, Frank opened a leather bound folder in front of him and took out a piece of paper. He slid it across to Brian, who picked it up.

As Brian read it Frank said, “You will note that most of the conditions you are already subject to. The last three are the key conditions. First you train with others like you, right now we evaluate you every month and try to keep up with your abilities, we document them to help out anyone else who should get your condition later. The training we have right now will help you, we have gotten good information from the others who share your abilities. The second condition is really just an emphasis on something we can already do, we could call you up in times of need to serve in a different capacity. This is without notice and that is what it is. You could be called up and told to report to somewhere immediately and you have to agree to do so. Like I said, you were assigned to Des Moines to convalesce and were already under this stricture.”

“The last condition is, of course, silence. Your discretion about what you can do is required. What if everyone knew, not just heard rumors, but knew that you could become superhuman by killing the undead? We would have far too many seeking power for personal gain who, frankly, would not have the species best interest at heart. Rumors, speculation, these things are all fine, they give the populace something to focus on, a fantasy they can make television shows about. This is okay and acts as a pressure relief valve. You have to agree not to ever discuss or confirm any sort of super human power to anyone.”

Brian finished reading the single page document, then put his out out for a pen, which Frank provided, so he could sign it.

“Okay, good, now that that is out of the way we can answer any lingering questions you might have. And perhaps answer a few of ours. From your notes on the case with Jed we were able to surmise that he was trading hard to find goods, specifically heroin, to the local underground in exchange for blood.”

Brian nodded, “I have had time to think it over and it seemed that way to me too. There was no way Teddy was getting the drugs himself, he went through Mathew.” Briefly Brian explained everything that he remembered about the night fighting Jake.

Dr Jones said, “We will need for you to write down a full account for us, the smallest details are sometime amazingly important.”

Brian nodded, “You said I could ask questions too?”

“Go ahead.”, Said Frank.

“When can I leave?”

Frank's eyebrows shot up a millimeter and his smile changed into a small 'o', “That is not usually the first question I hear. I don't see any reason to keep you any longer. I have no doubt that your recovery is going to be full in a very short time. We will still need you to come in daily, think of it as your day job, to run tests and write down what you know. After that we will run you through the next training course with others like you, it is a crash course I am afraid, only takes two weeks and you won't be traveling to some exotic location, this hospital is the training facility.”

“Really? It seems so, small.”

“We take day trips when we need space.”

“What about Kaylee?”

“If she agrees to the conditions she will be in the next training class alongside of you. She will be inducted into the military and will have to go through basic training, same as any other recruit. First she will be through our school.”

Brian nodded again. He didn't think Kaylee would object, “What if she doesn't want to?”

“That would be awkward. We would have to find a solution that worked for everyone. Let me ask you Brian, do you think she is that idealistic?”

“No. I think she would rather be working anyway. She knows something is different with her body. I think she will sign on, even if it means enlisting in the Army.”

“Good, then we won't have to explore alternatives, that makes things easier.”

“You said we will train, when will that happen?”

“The classes run every two weeks, the next class is in ten days.”, Frank said.

Brian thought for a moment, then said, “You teach the classes don't you?”

Frank nodded, “I am one of the instructors, yes, among other tasks. How did you know?”

“No uniform, the way you act, but mostly it was because four days ago you came in with the cleaning crew, we were being held for you to evaluate us, weren't we?”

“Another task I perform. Very good, I like it when my specialists are sharp.”

Brian accepted the compliment without comment. “Any other burning questions? No?”, Frank asked, “Then lets swap you out for Kaylee and see if she can't throw a kink or two into our flawless plans.”

Brian briefly saw Kaylee before she was brought out of the room, he did not have a chance to do more than smile at her as she passed him. She quick smiled back and disappeared down the corridor.

Brian watched television while he waited and after a brief episode of “Wasteland Raiders” Kaylee returned.

Her face was unreadable, Brian stood up slowly. “That was fast. What happened?”

“Same thing that happened to you, at least according to 'Frank' our part time guard.”

“That was a good tactic wasn't it?”, Brian smiled.

“I was pretty mad when I saw him there, I don't even know why I was angry. I guess its like finding out your grandma has a job other than spoiling you rotten when you are a kid. Guards are supposed to be guards, not high level military people pretending to be your friend and cracking jokes.”

“I was surprised to see him there too. You got over it?”

Kaylee nodded curtly, “The way I see it, what other choice did I have? Either join up, train and do the job they have set out for me or stay locked in here. He didn't say what my alternative was, I just assume it would mean a lot more time as a guest of the quarantine center.”

“Frank told me he didn't have an alternative yet, that unless you didn't agree to the conditions he wouldn't need to have think of one.”

“That sneak! He told me you accepted them, then went over each item line by line and told me it would be a job worth doing, not only would I be employed and off the dole, I would be also be your partner.”, Kaylee said.

Brian's voice took on an edge of humor, “He said that? He didn't mention burdening me with you as a partner...I might have to rethink his offer.”

Kaylee made a snorting noise and said without missing a beat, “They had to talk me into taking you. Said you might slow me down, but if I could babysit you that you might grow into your role.”

Brian laughed and knew that things were going to be okay.

Epilogue

Brian sat on a worn brown couch, he tried to move but his squirming only brought him more discomfort as Kaylee settled more firmly into his lap.

“Flo!”, Brian called from the den, where a large television was softly showing the afternoon news, “Kaylee won't get off me!”

Flo's head appeared at the doorway, she snickered evilly when she saw his predicament, “Serves you right, you've been flirting with her all afternoon.”, as she slowly started to shut the door to the den she said, “Walt will be home at five, that gives you, oh, an hour or so. I gotta run to the store to get some more beer, try not to wreck the couch.” The door shut with a resounding click.

Brian looked guiltily over at the empty bottle of wheat beer, “I should go with her, I drank most of the beer.” He hadn't been able to stop from having three of the newly released wheat beers from Kansas, it had been awhile since his last beer at 'The Cave', and a mere three days since their release from the quarantine.

Kaylee leaned over and said, “There is a case in the garage, I saw it when I came in, you can buy next time.”

“Oh”, Brian said puzzled, “So why'd Flo....”

Kaylee interrupted his thought with a kiss, which he returned passionately. They broke apart and looked at each other. Brian thought the view from his side had to be better than the one from hers. Kaylee had never really told him what had happened during the fight, he would get a copy of her report when she was finished with it and he was certain she would read his too. Sometimes Brian would get vivid pictures of parts of the fight in the basement of Necrolagnia, for the most part he remembered everything clearly until he was thrown into the corn kegs, then things got fuzzy. Down in the hole he was certain he was dieing, and that he had seen an angel come down to take him to the great beyond, his next clear memory had been of Lavern pulling a blanket over him as he lay on the sidewalk outside the Necrolagnia. When the fire spread in earnest to the building Lavern and her regulars had been some of the first on the scene, getting people out and even going back into the burning building to pull out a few who had been trampled in the rush to leave the place. None of the club goers had been burned, but 12 of them had serious injuries requiring hospitalization from being pushed and trampled as the mob struggled to get out of the building. Brian's thoughts on the fire code violation had been correct after all.

Though the haze of the smoke, or so Lavern had told him, came Kaylee, carrying Brian in her arms like a baby, something he was sure she couldn't do, he wasn't that heavy, but Kaylee was a mere wisp of a girl, still recovering from a serious injury of her own. Lavern had been insistent when she visited Brian in the hospital a few days later; Kaylee had carried him to safety. Brian wrote it off as adrenaline, people can do amazing things when their lives are threatened. Lavern had also confided that Kayle had been acting a little strange that night too, talking about lights and power and super zombies. When Brian asked Kaylee about the evening she told him she would talk with him about it later. Brian's recovery from his wounds had been nothing short of amazing. His re-injured leg had, from what the doctor's said, been injured in such a way as to actually make his prognosis for a full recover with full movement even better than from the first time his leg had been injured. They were not even considering replacing his knee anymore. His 'at come recovery' lasted less than a week before he went into the station to start filing reports about what had happened that night. The fire department had been able to salvage the building and the bodies in the basement were recovered. The super zombies there were confirmed dead, permanently, Matt's corpse had still been alive and moving up until a fire man put his ax through its head.

From the time in the hospital it had seemed events were conspiring to keep Kaylee and him separated, paperwork, late night meetings, there were even award ceremonies for Kaylee and him to attend. The long delayed get together with Walt and Flo had been rescheduled to their first free day, which turned out to be the first weekend of May, almost two months after the bar burned down. Brian had been able to spend only three nights out with Kaylee, and none of them were just the two of us. I am surprised she stuck with me this long, he thought, then again she was foolish enough to rescue me from the burning hell of Necrolagnia.

One thing Brian couldn't explain away during the recovery were the burns on his legs, he vividly recalled his pants being on fire and his legs burning, yet at the hospital there were no burns, true the hair on his legs had been burnt off, but there were no burns, it is as if they had never happened. Or had magically healed. The gash on his fore head had healed without a scar too. He had a lot of questions and the one person who could answer them was sitting in a thin t-shirt, loose cotton shorts and in a suggestive pose on his lap, one knee on either side of his thighs. He tried not to look up her shorts; not hard enough and Kaylee shift slightly to give him a better view. Forcing himself to tear his gaze away he looked up at her and smiled.

“Now?”

Kaylee nodded eagerly.

“At Flo and Walt's place?”

Another eager nod.

“On an old brown couch?”

Kaylee leaned to kiss him again, moving his hand from where it rested on her hip up under her shirt onto one of her bare breasts. Kaylee leaned to kiss him again, moving his hand from where it rested on her hip up under her shirt onto one of her bare breasts. She let out a soft moan as he toyed with the hard nipple between his fingers. The questions can wait for another day.

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