Surviving the Apocalypse

Data

Despite the best efforts of not just Camp Hope but the New Dawn Alliance, it took 2 years for them to gather the information from all 12 labs that had been needed for Doctor Harrington and his team to even begin properly developing the vaccine. What they hadn’t known until it was all compiled and joined into one file, was that it contained a decryption algorithm within it that was only apparent once it had everything. The biggest surprise was that most of the data while initially seeming useful, was essentially just fluff where the real message from Marcus Storm became apparent.

As soon as it showed that he hadn’t just been gathering data, he had used his connections inside the Central Disease Control to actually begin developing the vaccine. To do so however required a completely new approach to them, as it would have to target the RNA that the virus used to reenergize necrotic tissue. In six years before the apocalypse no one had come even remotely close, but within weeks with this approach they had developed a treatment that had slowed the virus so much that they had created what they later came to call a half zombie. It wasn’t a cure, but it allowed the person to retain enough control of their mind, but also walk among zombies without them ever triggering on human flesh the way they normally did.

When Harrington saw the results of this data, he was completely surprised as it also told them where they would be able to find samples from all three subjects, as each of them had been destroyed when the Second Dawn learned of it. It was the real reason Marcus Storm had been forced to committing suicide, as they had marked him for death not realizing that it would have just set things to repeat again and again. Marcus understood they needed the samples from the different subjects, each one of their treatments a key to the vaccine that would eventually give them all immunity from this virus that had ended the world.

“How long?” Hanna demanded knowing that each day that went by where the Second Dawn was locked out of the military mainframe was another day they grew more desperate to put an end to her. They were going through three dozen SAMs a day now, as the idiots tried to overwhelm the aid defenses through sheer numbers and attack vectors.

“If I had these samples, a few weeks. The issue however, is he buried them under a tree in the yard where his house was. A marker that is no longer there, in the center of a scorch mark from dozens of houses that were lost to that bomb. Without the proper reference points, it would be impossible to locate as he didn’t put GPS coordinates as a start point. You might be able to deduce the location or close to it, but you would be the only one.” He said as she looked at the aerial photos. The entire sector had burnt, the road itself melting into the rest of the ground that was still scorched two years later.

Even when she went in person the next day, she couldn’t locate where her house had been, or where the trees would have been located. Even using her abilities she couldn’t figure out where the damn things would be, realizing that she only had one option left if they wanted to develop this vaccine. She just hated that she had to die in order to reset it, but couldn’t do it in a way that would be considered suicide.

“You look like someone just killed your dog.” Lucas said making her glare at him.

“Not my dog, me.” She replied shaking her head as she despised what she was going to have to do.

“What do you mean you?” he asked her as she laughed.

“There is only one way we are going to be able to retrieve those samples, and unfortunately it is before the outbreak even begins.” She told him.

“Time travel?” he asked making her laugh.

“Not so much as time travel, as I don’t actually go back in time. I just wake up in the past with the memories of what happens. For me, it is about 3 months before the outbreak now. Not far enough back to stop it, but far enough that I can begin some preparations. The challenge is, getting the people I have come to trust to trust me enough to risk everything by helping me build this.” She explained as he smiled.

“That seems simple enough to solve, have each of them tell you something that if you told them would make them trust you without question. Of course, it would have to apply before the outbreak. Me for example, my twin brothers name was Emanuel, and he died just 3 days after our birth. Every year I celebrate what would have been our life as if he were still here. My mom found it a way to tolerate the pain that comes with losing a child.” He told her giving her an idea.

“How would that knowledge make you trust me?” she asked.

“Because the only person that knew that until now was my mother. The fact you know it means it could have only come from me, as my mother passed away 8 years ago. It was what drove me to the military just two days after I turned 18. I didn’t even stay for her funeral, enlisted and ran.” Lucas told her.

Hanna understood him a little better now, knowing that something like that left a permanent mark. She had lost her father and talking about him was difficult enough without becoming emotional. “Thank you for trusting me with that.” She said knowing what it meant.

“You tell another soul and we will have issues.” He said making her laugh as her system gave her a quest to obtain those types of things from the rest of the leadership she had set up twice now.

It took her 3 days to get everyone on her list of people she felt would be critical to making her Camp even better than it was now, especially since she would have even more time to set it up. Despite the additional time she had earned from setting it up the way she had, it still wasn’t enough for her ultimate goal of saving her father. If she could get the information they needed and go back before it became necessary, she felt she would be able to stop it entirely as well as save his life.

Right after the quest completed just minutes before the timer had ended, the alarms began blaring. She knew what it meant, as the air attacks had become constant over the last two years. They hadn’t had one in several weeks now though, and as she looked at the radar she knew why. Instead of even a few dozen missiles, there were hundreds of them. More than enough to actually overwhelm the air defenses and suffer casualties. She smiled as she shut them down before the SAM sites could fire, the easy solution that she hadn’t felt pain from before. With a blinding flash she sat in the bright room that she realized was her system itself informing her of her success.

Just like the previous two times, it analyzed everything she had accomplished and rewarded her based on its assessment. This time she noticed she was given 5 months and 12 days, slamming the desk as she realized it was the day she had returned to the Academy after her father’s funeral. Just two more weeks and she would have been back far enough to stop him from killing himself, even if it meant they both went into hiding from the Second Dawn. She however knew it was little more than a pipe dream, as even when she was able to save him, they would have to save the rest of humanity right after that.

This time however, she was able to select two of the abilities she had gathered, learning quickly that just because she encountered them once, didn’t mean she would find them again. Temporal Mechanics was odd that way, and she decided with the limited time she had back here again, she was going to learn as much of it as possible. Especially since it was more than theoretical knowledge now. Just like her system had designed things she could replicate, she had a feeling if she learned enough of the underlying knowledge she would be able to replicate it and actually make a time machine. Than she could bring her father into the future in order to hide him.

Returning her mind to the immediate task, she selected her healing ability once again, as it had most definitely saved her life a time or two. The second was not so easily chosen, as most of them were abilities that were easily obtained. She selected the magnetism ability, as it was the second rarest one she had encountered, the elemental, speed and strength abilities that rounded out the 9 she had this trip making it seem easy. What she hadn’t counted on was being thrown right into the fray she became coherent, General Montgomery chastising her for her apparent lack of interest in her responsibilities as a Cadet.

She glared at him with a smirk for just a moment, considering her words carefully. She knew the life in the barracks as a cadet for 4 months wasn’t how she was about to spend her time. “If that is unacceptable to the General, perhaps we would be better off parting ways. I don’t need this pathetic bullshit and refuse to stop my grief because it doesn’t mesh with your crappy soldier routine. No die respect, sir.” She told the woman who had been the bane of her existence for 3 long years. She had pushed Hanna to be the best, and now Hanna was. She however wasn’t about to tolerate this garbage treatment for another day let alone 4 months.

“What was that Cadet?” Claire Montgomery asked coldly.

“With no due respect sir, if my grief isn’t appropriate after watching my father blow his f*****g brains out all over his wall 2 weeks ago, you can take your scholarships and shove them up your ass, sir.” She said bluntly to the woman whose eyes went wide. “Now if you will excuse me, I have better things to do with my time than listen to some has been woman think she is God’s gift to the Army when she can’t even fight her way out of a wet paper bag.” Hanna said before she turned and left the office flaunting the normal procedure that Cadets were supposed to carry themselves. She knew this was going to cost her before the Commandant ordered her to his office, and he was a man she actually had respect for.

She walked to the office of the Major General, his secretary nodding that she could enter. She rapped once on the frame and entered his office, slamming the door shut before she marched front and center of his desk. “Cadet Colonel Storm reporting as ordered.” She said without the salute that was customary and expected.

Major General Jason Mars looked at her a little concerned, knowing that she didn’t do anything without a clear reason. This disrespect although new, had a very serious reason behind it. “General Montgomery tells me you had some very interesting words with her not long ago. Care to explain?” he asked carefully knowing that tensions between the two had always been high.

“No sir, I do not care to explain. If she failed to report the full extent of that conversation because she is too cowardly to face the consequences of her words and actions, that is between you and her sir.” Hanna told him as his eyes widened in surprise. “Quite frankly if it is the position of the Army and this Academy that I should, how was it she put it. ‘Forget the grief of the fallen, the war must continue,’ just two weeks after I watched my father blow his brains out and the day after I put him on the ground, I will gladly submit my resignation and leave immediately.” She told him coldly as his nostrils flared.

“Susan, summon Montgomery to my office now.” He said into his intercom before he looked at Hanna.

“Will you have a seat?” he asked conversationally.

“No sir.” She said well aware it would force Montgomery to stand as well when she entered a few moments later.

“Yes sir?” she asked standing next to Hanna.

“General, the Cadet Colonel seems to think you a coward. Something about you failing to report the entirety of your conversation with her, so tell me, what were you discussing when she said the words in this report?” he asked her bluntly as her face paled.

“Sir, the topic of our conversation is not relevant.” Montgomery said as Hanna looked at her.

“Not relevant? Refresh my memory General, who was it that took the full 3 months of bereavement leave all officers are entitled to after the loss of a close family member? Yet you stand there and have the balls to say it doesn’t matter that you told me I needed to soldier on, THE DAY AFTER I BURIED MY FATHER!” Hanna yelled at her. “If it is so inconsequential to you, I challenge you to a duel as is my right as a Cadet against a superior who has caused offense. If you are so confident it shouldn’t matter, put that pretty little face in the ring so I can turn it into a bloody mess with the rage towards you that won’t matter either.” Hanna said so calmly that General Mars smiled.

“Duel it is, Combat Arena 1900 hours.” He said looking right at Montgomery. “We will discuss your lack of sense after you recover. I have a feeling you are not going to leave the ring today before you learn a lesson. Dismissed Cadet.” He said as she saluted him before turning to look at Brigadier General Montgomery.

“If I win, I never see that pathetic face of yours again. If you do, I will face whatever punishment General Mars finds appropriate. I would wish you luck, but unfortunately for me killing you isn’t am option. Feel lucky you don’t have to worry about exiting the arena alive.” Hanna told her before turning and walking away.