Pathogen

Fear the Reapers

                                                                                               IIII

    There was a group of uglies massing on the north wall.  We dispatched a team to eliminate the threat.  At first it seemed that the reapers had piled up deer carcasses, but then we saw the implant.  Jimmy, the newcomer, was shot in the back by thieves.  He had an implant in his spine so he could walk, but there it was in a pile of former human.  

       The grave dwellers were massing in great multitude.   We had all the back up we could get, including Jameson and myself.  Kawalski and I were backed up agaist the wall when I ran out of ammo.  They surrounded us and before I knew it, there was fresh blood at my feet and there was Kawalski being eaten (well most of him anyway).  I almost ended up like Kawalski, but I used the only weapon I had left; my fists.  I felt the crack of the deceased warrior's skull as my fist plunged into the depths of the mind (literally).  As my enemy fell, I saw Jameson's gun jam.  Then a grave dweller jumped on him and then another.  I pushed away the demons surrounding me and ran for Jameson.  Despite their state of decay, the grave dwellers still had a spinal system.  My new arm was feeling better than the old one as I executed my plan.  "Here goes!"  

         I felt the shattering of their spines as I put them were they belonged; into paralysis.  By the time I was finished there was blood gushing from Jameson's neck.  "Get out of my way!"  I did as he ordered as he ran for the garage.  "Carter, we could use some help here!"  I could either go after Jameson, or help my team.  Jameson would have to make his way to the medical wing on his own.

           We were losing the battle within 5 minutes.  There was a deep rumble coming from the garage.  A construction grade dump truck plowed down the bed.  "Don't just stand there; load it up!"

            Half of the squad was shovelling the gore and the other half were protecting the truck.  Within an hour's time it was loaded.  I opened the door to get in with Jameson, but he said "Sorry kid."  "Sorry for what?"  He placed an envelope in my hand and then pulled out his hand gun and shot me in the stomach.  The vest was thick, but it hurt like hell.  He drove off.  As I was regaining my breath, I saw him drive about 200 yards out, and then the rusty and worn engine died.  The truck came to a complete halt.  The grave dwellers got into the cabin, then Boom!

              I shoved the envelope into my pocket and stood up.  "No!  Dear God no, please no!"  All of the uglies went with him.  "I'm going to kill every last one of those God damned Reapers."

                                                                              *            *          *

                We went back into the base.  I was headed for my bunk when Wilcox called me to the surveillance room.  "Listen, I know you and Jameson were like father and son.  We have the footage from his monitor if you want to see-"  "Lets go."

                    Each of our helmets were equipped with a camera that transmitted live feed that was recorded here at the base. Jameson's recording was as follows: after he drove for a while, the engine died.  "Dammit!"  The door broke.  "Get the hell off!" he said as they swarmed into the cabin.  He pulled out a grenade and released the pin.  Then the video cut out.

                         Fighting tears, I retired to my bunk and opened the envelope.

Carter,

        The world is a cold place.  The shattered remnants of society need a leader.  If you've received this letter, then the world has lost that leader.  I cannot think of anyone more capable to fulfill these duties than you.  Lead our people back into the age of civilization.  If the Reapers won't submit, kill every one of those sick bastards.

                                                                                                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                   George Jameson