Everyone on board the USS New Horizon scrambled to get to their stations. Something Captain green had never understood in all his twenty four years in the navy. This destroyer had an active crew at any given hour throughout the year. When it was time for action though, everyone was scrambling to get where they needed to be.
The ship had been off the coast of Peru for three months now supporting Major Cole’s “A team” while they looked into whatever had made all of South America go black to the rest of the world. So far they had only been looking on the coast, and had found nothing. No humans, no “zombies”, nothing. It had been enough to make the Captain keep a radio that was in constant contact with the Cole’s team with him at all times.
Today was the first time they had decided to move further inland, to spite Green’s protests. Cole had brushed him off and told him if they did find anything this team was the best there was and that there was nothing to worry about. It had convinced Green, at least up until 20 minutes ago when Cole had called in and said they were heading to the beach and needed a cover team and pick up immediately.
This was standard procedure and wouldn’t have caused alarm, if the Major and his team had been following it the last three months. Instead the Major had made it clear that unless his team was dying the only thing the Captain was giving him was a place to sleep.
The Captain had set out the cover team ten minutes ago and was preparing the ship to pull back to the “safe” zone off the coast of Mexico. He had left his radio on but hadn’t heard from Cole sense his call for pick-up.
“Sir, we are getting confirmation from the cover team. They are on the ground. Colonel Sheppard has a chopper waiting encase they need a quick pick-up.”
“Thank you Ensign, keep me updated if there is any sudden change.”
Captain Green paced the bridge, He had always trained to be calm and let the enemy come to him. But he had never figured out how to do that when he didn’t know what or who the enemy was. He began to imagine every sort of enemy, from children with bombs strapped to their backs to werewolves jumping from tree to tree after Cole’s team. His day dreaming was interrupted by his communications officer.
“Sir, we have visual on Cole’s team.”
“Bring it up.”
A screen about the size of a normal home TV lit up and showed an image from his cover teams comm. Officer’s helmet cam. So far it showed Cole’s team, minus two people, including Major Cole, and a man, clearly civilian, be carried between two of the SEALs. The third was staying behind and turned back several times to make sure it was clear. As they moved closer the Captain began to see why. Out of the trees, limping and crawling toward the men, came several figures. They looked like people but their skin was like what he had seen during his first meeting with the men he now worked so closely with. Bones stuck out of joints and many of those that crawled were missing their lower halves altogether.
As soon as the cover team saw this they opened up, firing on anything coming out of the trees. Even then it barely slowed them down. Even those that were hit and fell would get back up and keep stumbling toward them.
“This is recording?” The Captain asked.
“Yes sir, what the hell..”
“Can it, tell Sheppard to move his chopper in to pick up Cole’s team and the wounded man. Our cover team will stick around until they are away then head out themselves.”
Green said all this without taking his eyes away from the image in front of him. He watched Colonel Sheppard’s bird come in and load the team and turn back heading for his ship. He then watched as the cover team loaded into their boat, still firing at the creatures and head back themselves.
~
The Captain was in the medical bay as soon as Cole’s team arrived. He moved toward the wounded civilian but barked at the marines standing around him.
“What the hell happened out there? Where is Cole? Who is this?”
“Sir, we have no idea what happened. We found a small group of civilians. Most were dead or dying. This guy was the only healthy one. He had a small hand gun and said they were there filming when they ran into the creatures. Cole ordered us to stay put while he and Mendes scouted. Before they came back those…things jumped us, we held out for a while but we were low on ammo. This guy got shot in the leg from somewhere. Probably one of us, it was crazy. We pulled back as soon as he started bleeding.”
“Calm down son,” Green put his hand on the SEALs shoulder, “You did good, saved a life. Major Cole would be proud of you. Get some rest. When we get to the safe zone I will need a report so get your head straight and take your time writing it. Ok?”
“Yes sir, thank you.”
“You all are dismissed, thank you for your service today.”
Green turned toward the nurse and wounded man as the marines walked out.
“What do we have?”
“Nothing too serious, blood loss is his only problem. He will be fine.”
“Good, I want to ask this…what is his name?”
“ID says his name is James Neely, sir.”
“Hmm, well I want to ask this James Neely some questions when he wakes up. Call me when that happens.”
Fin.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Rainy Days
So I woke up this morning and my first thought was,"WOW I have to pee." So I did. Well When I got to the bathroom I realized it was raining. Which led to my second thought of the day. "This sucks, it's raining."
It wasn't until a few hours ago that I realized how wrong that thought was. Why?
Because yesterday was BEAUTIFUL. And I praised God for it. But today it was raining so I just decided it was lame. But God made both days. He, in His glory, made the rain so that life could continue. But instead of praising Him for that, I cursed the rain.
That is so like us though isn't it? We praise God for the beauty and the sun and the nice days, but we don't even think about praising Him for the rain that makes those days so amazing in the first place.
But even the rain has beauty. It is beautiful because no matter how rough it is, no matter how wet we get. The sun is coming.
Praise God for the rain.
It wasn't until a few hours ago that I realized how wrong that thought was. Why?
Because yesterday was BEAUTIFUL. And I praised God for it. But today it was raining so I just decided it was lame. But God made both days. He, in His glory, made the rain so that life could continue. But instead of praising Him for that, I cursed the rain.
That is so like us though isn't it? We praise God for the beauty and the sun and the nice days, but we don't even think about praising Him for the rain that makes those days so amazing in the first place.
But even the rain has beauty. It is beautiful because no matter how rough it is, no matter how wet we get. The sun is coming.
Praise God for the rain.
Monday, March 16, 2009
I don't want to be a Christian...
I met a christian who doesn't like people of other races and colors. I like diversity.
I met a christian who thinks that men and women are not equal. I think it's a level playing field.
I met a christian who boycots Halloween. I like costumes and candy.
I
met a christian who won't let his kids watch a cartoon that had "magic"
in it. I watched cartoons like that and never joined a cult.
I've
met christians that follow a political party and leaders because they
we're more "moral" than the other guy. To me that's leaning on human
strength.
I meet christians who "have the truth", and hurt those around them. I want to help where I can.
I've
met christians that have no sense of humour and live in fear of what
they don't understand. I love to laugh and pursue joy along with
knowledge.
I
read about Jesus who did and said the most amazing things. I want to be
like that guy. So I hope you don't mind if I avoid and ignore all of
these christians and those who are like them. It's just that my
attention is Elsewhere.
I met a christian who thinks that men and women are not equal. I think it's a level playing field.
I met a christian who boycots Halloween. I like costumes and candy.
I
met a christian who won't let his kids watch a cartoon that had "magic"
in it. I watched cartoons like that and never joined a cult.
I've
met christians that follow a political party and leaders because they
we're more "moral" than the other guy. To me that's leaning on human
strength.
I meet christians who "have the truth", and hurt those around them. I want to help where I can.
I've
met christians that have no sense of humour and live in fear of what
they don't understand. I love to laugh and pursue joy along with
knowledge.
I
read about Jesus who did and said the most amazing things. I want to be
like that guy. So I hope you don't mind if I avoid and ignore all of
these christians and those who are like them. It's just that my
attention is Elsewhere.
Chapter 3
Captian Green walked into the meeting room around 6:30 am. He had been called, at home, around 3 and told he was needed in Dallas immediately. He was flow in shortly after. He had showered and eaten and was now in full dress uniform before some of the most powerful me of the lower midwest.
“Captian, good to see you.”
It was General Harper. Green saluted the man even though the general was with the army and he with the navy, thus leaving no reason for the formality, but Green held great respect for anymore man who had seen 5 tours of the brushfire wars in the Middle East. Even if he was a land lover. The general waved him off.
“Please, we are all friends here. Have a seat.”
“Thank you sir, but if I may ask who are our other “friends.” Green asked while sitting in the only seat left empty.
The room was dark and their were only three others in the room not including the general and himself.
There was a monitor on the wall behind two of the unknown men which was blank. Other then that the room was empty save the small round table he now sat at with folders in front of each seat.
“This is Colonel Shepard of the Air Force, Major Cole of the Marines, and Mr. Willaims who is here on behalf of the Secretary of Defense. We are all here because of Mr. Williams so I will turn the floor over to him.”
Williams stood. He looked out of place in his Calvin Kline suit among the dress uniforms that sat around him. He also looked like he knew it. His eyes were shifty and he was flexing his right fist. In his left hand was a small remote.
“We are short of time and everything you need to know is in the folder in front of you so I will make this brief. As you all know most of South America have gone silent over the last few years and we have been preparing for an attack on either the US or Mexico. What you all don’t know is that a spy plane captured a full minute of video two days before Columbia went black.”
He pressed a button on his remote and the screen behind them lit up with the refined image of modern spy planes. There were more fires then Green had ever seen and thousands of people running in a steep panic. Then, slowly, more people came limping and crawling behind the runners. The camera zoomed in on these people and it showed chunks of skin taken out of many of of their limbs and they had grey, almost mold looking skin. Many of them were in hospital gowns or scrubs.
The video clicked off and Green looked around the table. Major Cole was the first to speak up.
“So what was it we just looked at? Military experiment gone wrong? Some kind of bio warfare?”
“What do you know about zombies?”
This was the General. He had been looking through his folder and just looked up as the words left his mouth. It was Green’s turn to speak up.
“Zombies? Like witch doctors and spells? Do you really think that is what we are dealing with?”
Williams cleared his throat and everyone looked at him. “We don’t really have any idea what it is but according to sources within South America are calling them zombies so for now that is what we are calling them.”
“So how do we deal with them?” This was Shepard, who Green thought by the way the man came across was all about business.
“That is why you are all here. The President has worked a deal and the General has already begun moving troops across Mexico. Colonel you are to recon the the areas stated in your folder and keeping the General up to date. Major Cole you are to put SEALs in to find to what we are up against. Which is where you come in Captain. Your ship is to be refitted and will support Cole’s men if something goes wrong. Now for the hard part. Because this is the first pre-strike sense World War II no one, not eve your family, can know about what you are doing and if something goes wrong you will not have support outside of the other uniformed men in this room. Are we understood?”
“Wait, so you want us to go black, invade South America, without support, all to take down some theoretical “zombies” right?” This was Major Cole, who Green couldn’t seem to read at the moment.
“That is basically it, yes.”
“Ok then,” Cole turned to Green and smiled, “Guess I will see you on the ship then mate.”
Fin
“Captian, good to see you.”
It was General Harper. Green saluted the man even though the general was with the army and he with the navy, thus leaving no reason for the formality, but Green held great respect for anymore man who had seen 5 tours of the brushfire wars in the Middle East. Even if he was a land lover. The general waved him off.
“Please, we are all friends here. Have a seat.”
“Thank you sir, but if I may ask who are our other “friends.” Green asked while sitting in the only seat left empty.
The room was dark and their were only three others in the room not including the general and himself.
There was a monitor on the wall behind two of the unknown men which was blank. Other then that the room was empty save the small round table he now sat at with folders in front of each seat.
“This is Colonel Shepard of the Air Force, Major Cole of the Marines, and Mr. Willaims who is here on behalf of the Secretary of Defense. We are all here because of Mr. Williams so I will turn the floor over to him.”
Williams stood. He looked out of place in his Calvin Kline suit among the dress uniforms that sat around him. He also looked like he knew it. His eyes were shifty and he was flexing his right fist. In his left hand was a small remote.
“We are short of time and everything you need to know is in the folder in front of you so I will make this brief. As you all know most of South America have gone silent over the last few years and we have been preparing for an attack on either the US or Mexico. What you all don’t know is that a spy plane captured a full minute of video two days before Columbia went black.”
He pressed a button on his remote and the screen behind them lit up with the refined image of modern spy planes. There were more fires then Green had ever seen and thousands of people running in a steep panic. Then, slowly, more people came limping and crawling behind the runners. The camera zoomed in on these people and it showed chunks of skin taken out of many of of their limbs and they had grey, almost mold looking skin. Many of them were in hospital gowns or scrubs.
The video clicked off and Green looked around the table. Major Cole was the first to speak up.
“So what was it we just looked at? Military experiment gone wrong? Some kind of bio warfare?”
“What do you know about zombies?”
This was the General. He had been looking through his folder and just looked up as the words left his mouth. It was Green’s turn to speak up.
“Zombies? Like witch doctors and spells? Do you really think that is what we are dealing with?”
Williams cleared his throat and everyone looked at him. “We don’t really have any idea what it is but according to sources within South America are calling them zombies so for now that is what we are calling them.”
“So how do we deal with them?” This was Shepard, who Green thought by the way the man came across was all about business.
“That is why you are all here. The President has worked a deal and the General has already begun moving troops across Mexico. Colonel you are to recon the the areas stated in your folder and keeping the General up to date. Major Cole you are to put SEALs in to find to what we are up against. Which is where you come in Captain. Your ship is to be refitted and will support Cole’s men if something goes wrong. Now for the hard part. Because this is the first pre-strike sense World War II no one, not eve your family, can know about what you are doing and if something goes wrong you will not have support outside of the other uniformed men in this room. Are we understood?”
“Wait, so you want us to go black, invade South America, without support, all to take down some theoretical “zombies” right?” This was Major Cole, who Green couldn’t seem to read at the moment.
“That is basically it, yes.”
“Ok then,” Cole turned to Green and smiled, “Guess I will see you on the ship then mate.”
Fin
Monday, March 9, 2009
Chapter 2
Twenty years later...
Abraham stood looking out the window of his office. He had just left a meeting where he had made his final offer to peacefully merge with Solar Empire, a company who was currently days away from a breakthrough in replacing gas with solar power. Abraham couldn't wait to get his hands on the money that would produce. He was the CEO for an alternative energy producing company by the name of Power Express. "not bad for the son of a loon" he would always joke at the Christmas parties.
He had put his jacket over his chair and was loosening his tie when his secretary walked in. He turned and smiled at the young woman. "Shannon, how are you? What is it dear?"
"I am just fine thank you, sir there is a James Neely to see you."
"Ah, well this should be interesting. Please send him in."
James came in and hugged his old friend. The two were, by now, as different as they came. Where Abraham's hair was cut short and kept neat, James' hair was down to his shoulders and always looked as though he had just woken up. He had a beard coming in where Abraham kept his face clean. Finally James was clear not an advocate of dressing well when meeting CEOs. He wore a green t-shirt and a pair of jeans full of holes.
"Hey prez how ya been man?"
James had called Abraham prez sense they had taken History together in 9th grade. It always steamed Abraham but he never showed it.
" I have been fine friend, I would ask how you have been but your attire speaks for itself I think." They laughed together for a moment before Abraham got serious again. "So what brings you out here?"
James pulled out a floppy disc and swayed it in his hand. "I thought you should see what I have on this disc."
"And what might that be James?"
"Answers to questions you gave up long ago bro."
"So this is about my father again."
"And that thing that attacked you family, yea."
"My father attacked my family James, we both know it, I still can't seem to understand why you won't give this whole thing up. We know what happened."
"I don't give it up because it isn't true. Listen this disc has information about an outbreak in South America, one that caused the same effects that we saw the night your mom and brother were killed."
Abraham turned and looked back out the window. His office was near the top floor and you could see all of Colorado from here. He loved the view, even more so when James was going on about these thing. "Why would I have interest in something that happened in South America? I am not following how this has to do with us or my family."
"You may not care about the outbreak in South America, but you will probably care about a man by the name of Garsia Munnes. He lived in the town that had the outbreak, fled to America after escaping execution due to a bite on his arm. He moved to Grand Oaks."
Abraham turned back to James slightly curious at this fact. "Our Grand Oaks?"
"Yea, he could be the zombie. The John Doe your dad killed. He could explain ever.."
"No, stop. My dad killed my mom and my brother...and some other guy. Whatever you have found doesn't matter to me." He turned and looked back out the window. "James, you know I love you like a brother but I think it is time to drop all this."
"Nah, bro look I know it is hard but come on."
Abraham turned around, red faced, "No, this is stupid and the fact that you keep pushing this fairy tale on me is even worse. Get out of my office James, now." Rage and spit flew from his mouth and clung to the words that seemed to slap James across the face.
James dropped his eyes to the disc, "Ok, I get it, I am leaving this here though, just look at it. For me." He dropped the disc on Abraham's desk and turned to leave. "I guess I will see you prez."
"I guess so."
With that James left. Abraham fell into his chair and, head in his hands, began to weep.
Fin.
Abraham stood looking out the window of his office. He had just left a meeting where he had made his final offer to peacefully merge with Solar Empire, a company who was currently days away from a breakthrough in replacing gas with solar power. Abraham couldn't wait to get his hands on the money that would produce. He was the CEO for an alternative energy producing company by the name of Power Express. "not bad for the son of a loon" he would always joke at the Christmas parties.
He had put his jacket over his chair and was loosening his tie when his secretary walked in. He turned and smiled at the young woman. "Shannon, how are you? What is it dear?"
"I am just fine thank you, sir there is a James Neely to see you."
"Ah, well this should be interesting. Please send him in."
James came in and hugged his old friend. The two were, by now, as different as they came. Where Abraham's hair was cut short and kept neat, James' hair was down to his shoulders and always looked as though he had just woken up. He had a beard coming in where Abraham kept his face clean. Finally James was clear not an advocate of dressing well when meeting CEOs. He wore a green t-shirt and a pair of jeans full of holes.
"Hey prez how ya been man?"
James had called Abraham prez sense they had taken History together in 9th grade. It always steamed Abraham but he never showed it.
" I have been fine friend, I would ask how you have been but your attire speaks for itself I think." They laughed together for a moment before Abraham got serious again. "So what brings you out here?"
James pulled out a floppy disc and swayed it in his hand. "I thought you should see what I have on this disc."
"And what might that be James?"
"Answers to questions you gave up long ago bro."
"So this is about my father again."
"And that thing that attacked you family, yea."
"My father attacked my family James, we both know it, I still can't seem to understand why you won't give this whole thing up. We know what happened."
"I don't give it up because it isn't true. Listen this disc has information about an outbreak in South America, one that caused the same effects that we saw the night your mom and brother were killed."
Abraham turned and looked back out the window. His office was near the top floor and you could see all of Colorado from here. He loved the view, even more so when James was going on about these thing. "Why would I have interest in something that happened in South America? I am not following how this has to do with us or my family."
"You may not care about the outbreak in South America, but you will probably care about a man by the name of Garsia Munnes. He lived in the town that had the outbreak, fled to America after escaping execution due to a bite on his arm. He moved to Grand Oaks."
Abraham turned back to James slightly curious at this fact. "Our Grand Oaks?"
"Yea, he could be the zombie. The John Doe your dad killed. He could explain ever.."
"No, stop. My dad killed my mom and my brother...and some other guy. Whatever you have found doesn't matter to me." He turned and looked back out the window. "James, you know I love you like a brother but I think it is time to drop all this."
"Nah, bro look I know it is hard but come on."
Abraham turned around, red faced, "No, this is stupid and the fact that you keep pushing this fairy tale on me is even worse. Get out of my office James, now." Rage and spit flew from his mouth and clung to the words that seemed to slap James across the face.
James dropped his eyes to the disc, "Ok, I get it, I am leaving this here though, just look at it. For me." He dropped the disc on Abraham's desk and turned to leave. "I guess I will see you prez."
"I guess so."
With that James left. Abraham fell into his chair and, head in his hands, began to weep.
Fin.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Chapter 1
James and Abraham ran through the woods at full speed. Every weekend they went and played games near the swamp. Abraham's mother hated this tradition and regularly complained about it, but it never slowed the young boys down.
James was several paces in front of Abraham and he was sprinting to keep up and follow the laughter and taunting of his best friend. So it was rather surprising when he ran face first into the boys back. He fell over and began to yell when James spun around, wide eyed, and put a finger over his mouth with one hand and pointed toward the murky water with the other.
Abraham sat up and looked in the direction of the pointed hand and opened his mouth to ask what, still fuming over falling in the mud and twigs, but soon saw that there was no need to ask anything. It was impossible to miss the thing standing in front of them. Limping around aimlessly. It had red liquid dripping like syrup from it's mouth and it's leg had bone broken and ripping through it's molding grey skin. Black puss oozing from the wound.
James whispered something about a swampman but Abraham didn't hear. The creature clearly did though. It turned toward them and lumbered forward and gave off a deep moan. It's arms flew up and, limping toward them, bared it's teeth.
That was all it took for the two boys to run off as fast as they could back home. When they finally broke through the line of trees they collaped in Abraham's yard and looked back to see if the creature was still coming. When they didn't see it they decided to keep it between them and went home to dinner.
That night Abraham was woken by the sounds of a gun shot. He had heard this shot before. It was his fathers huntng rifle. He tired to pretend it had been a dream but as soon as he closed his eyes again another shot went off. He got up and hid in the closet, afraid of what might be going on. He father was a kindhearted and gentle man but because he had lost his job not long ago had taken up drinking, which had begun to cause problems in the family. Another shot went off soon after and Abraham began to cry softly, soon causing him to doze of on the floor of his closet.
He was shaken awake early the next morning by a police officer. He was taken away in a police car not knowing what had happened the night before. He later found out his father was charged with the murder of a man they called John Doe, his mother, and his older brother but never put in prison. He was instead put into a mental facility due to his claims that he had to kill his family because they had been biten by this John Doe and would soon become "zombies".
Fin
James was several paces in front of Abraham and he was sprinting to keep up and follow the laughter and taunting of his best friend. So it was rather surprising when he ran face first into the boys back. He fell over and began to yell when James spun around, wide eyed, and put a finger over his mouth with one hand and pointed toward the murky water with the other.
Abraham sat up and looked in the direction of the pointed hand and opened his mouth to ask what, still fuming over falling in the mud and twigs, but soon saw that there was no need to ask anything. It was impossible to miss the thing standing in front of them. Limping around aimlessly. It had red liquid dripping like syrup from it's mouth and it's leg had bone broken and ripping through it's molding grey skin. Black puss oozing from the wound.
James whispered something about a swampman but Abraham didn't hear. The creature clearly did though. It turned toward them and lumbered forward and gave off a deep moan. It's arms flew up and, limping toward them, bared it's teeth.
That was all it took for the two boys to run off as fast as they could back home. When they finally broke through the line of trees they collaped in Abraham's yard and looked back to see if the creature was still coming. When they didn't see it they decided to keep it between them and went home to dinner.
That night Abraham was woken by the sounds of a gun shot. He had heard this shot before. It was his fathers huntng rifle. He tired to pretend it had been a dream but as soon as he closed his eyes again another shot went off. He got up and hid in the closet, afraid of what might be going on. He father was a kindhearted and gentle man but because he had lost his job not long ago had taken up drinking, which had begun to cause problems in the family. Another shot went off soon after and Abraham began to cry softly, soon causing him to doze of on the floor of his closet.
He was shaken awake early the next morning by a police officer. He was taken away in a police car not knowing what had happened the night before. He later found out his father was charged with the murder of a man they called John Doe, his mother, and his older brother but never put in prison. He was instead put into a mental facility due to his claims that he had to kill his family because they had been biten by this John Doe and would soon become "zombies".
Fin
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