UNSCDF Chapter 10- The Devil's Offensive

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

UNSC Relief Center

March 22, 2001
1100 Local Time

            Zyrok lay on a hospital bed and looked around. Casey sat beside him and smiled at him.

            “Oh, you’re awake.” Casey got up from his seat and walked to the door.

            “Doctor!” Casey shouted.

            A middle aged man with a beard walked into the room with a white lab coat.

            “Where am I?” Zyrok asked.

            “Fort Collins Relief Center.” Casey stood beside the doctor.

            “Where’s that?” Zyrok shook his head in confusion.

            “Slow down with the questions Lieutenant.” the doctor looked at Zyrok’s heart monitor.

            “Colorado. We took you to the nearest medical facility.” Casey replied.

            “Alright, it looks like your vitals are normal. I suggest you take some more rest.” the doctor spoke to Zyrok.     

            “Where are the others?” Zyrok looked around.

            “They’re in the lounge.” Casey replied not sure if he should tell Zyrok about the fallen marines.

            “Oh, where’s my datapad?” Zyrok looked at his hospital gown.

            “Forester took it and sent it to High Command already.” Casey replied.

            “She’s still here?” Zyrok looked as the doctor wrote notes on his clipboard.

            “Yeah, she just came back an hour ago.” Casey looked at his watch.

            “An hour…wait, how long have I been out?” Zyrok asked the doctor.

            “Two days. You’re lucky to know someone from High Command.” the doctor replied.

            “Forester…what do you mean doctor?” Zyrok thought and put on a confused face.

            “You got infected and were deemed to turn into a zombie. Your friend, Lieutenant Forester, came back from High Command with nanotechnology.” the doctor answered.

            “Nanotechnology?” Zyrok was confused.

            “Nanites, to be exact. It’s a cure for the virus.” the doctor answered.

            “Cure?” Zyrok was fascinated.

          “Yes, you won’t be turning into a zombie. Downside is that you require Nerotonin-2 injections weekly to keep the nanites working.” the doctor explained.

            “Great, I need drugs to keep myself alive.” Zyrok said sarcastically.

            “That’s all I know about these nanites. Perhaps you can ask Lieutenant Forester after you rest.” the doctor suggested.

            “Yeah, so much to take in.” Zyrok closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

*          *          *

            Charlie walked to the front door and noticed two zombies bashing at his door. He walked into his garage and grabbed a baseball bat. He opened the door and shoved the first zombie and bashed the second one to its head.

            “I’m going to kill all of you.” Charlie swung the bat at the other zombie and broke its neck.

            Charlie ran down the streets and saw a troop transport Warthog with two marines.

            “Hey!” Charlie called out.

            “What are you doing out here?” a slender tall marine in his early twenties waved Charlie over.

            “I want to enlist in the UNSC and help the fight.” Charlie firmly said thinking about Sarah.

            “Sure, hop in the back.” the marine pointed at the back seat.

         “What’s your name son?” the other marine sitting in the passenger seat asked as he removed his helmet.

            “Charlie.” Charlie stuck out his hand to the other man who was in his late thirties with a scar on his face.

            “I’m Sergeant Felix Fay. You got a last name?” the marine shook his hand and asked.

            “I don’t go by one. I either go by Charlie or Zyrok.” Charlie replied.

            “Sure, doesn’t matter anyways. Welcome aboard Charlie.” Fay smiled.

            “Lance Corporal Dawson Mack.” the slender marine shook Charlie’s hand.

            “Let us drive first to see if we can pick up some survivors.” Fay told Mack.

          The Warthog drove past some battle torn streets when suddenly a large pickup truck sped out an alley and smashed into the vehicle. The Warthog cart-wheeled and then slammed into a traffic light pole. Everything turned into darkness.

*          *          *

            Zyrok woke up from his bed and noticed an alarm ringing from outside the building. Zyrok had heard this alarm before.

            “Where have I heard that before?” Zyrok thought for a moment “Oh damn, it’s an outpost attack.”

            Zyrok got up from his bed and pulled the heart rate monitor off his chest.

            “Woah.” Zyrok suddenly felt dizzy.

            “Anyone in here?” a man shouted down the hallway.

            “Yeah.” Zyrok slowly walked out the room and saw a marine holding a UMP.

         “We are evacuating this relief center. A big horde is attacking our gates followed by two massive zombies.” the marine explained as he pulled a Lock 17 from his belt.

            “I need my gear Private Nevarez…” Zyrok looked at the name stenciled on his flak jacket.

            “Aaron Nevarez.” the man saluted “Take my pistol.”

            “Thanks.” Zyrok accepted the pistol “Where’s my team?”

            “You mean Echo Squad?” Nevarez asked “At the gates holding off so the civilians can evacuate.”

            “You gear can be found in the storage room.” Nevarez pointed down the hallway.

            “Let’s go.” Zyrok ran.

          “Attention all UNSC personnel. The zombies have breached the entrance. Fall back and evacuate. Repeat, fall back!” the announcement broadcasted on the speakers.

            Zyrok entered the storage room and saw his uniform and armor.

            “Give me a minute.” Zyrok closed the door and changed as Nevarez stood watch outside.

            In a matter of minutes, Zyrok was in his battle outfit holding the Lock 17 Nevarez gave him.

         “Let’s get out of her now.” Nevarez spoke as the same announcement broadcasted in the background.

            “You got extra clips for his pistol?” Zyrok asked.

            “Two, here you go.” Nevarez handed Zyrok two clips from his pocket.

            “Echo Squad, this is Zyrok. Anyone copy?” Zyrok spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Loud and clear Zyrok. Glad to see you back in action.” Casey replied with excitement.

            “Where you guys at?” Zyrok asked.

            “We’re just about to takeoff. Where are you?” Casey responded.

“I’m at the hospital. Can you pop by?” Zyrok asked.

“Copy, we’ll pick you up on the rooftops. Ground level is overrun.” Casey replied.

            “Got it, on my way.” Zyrok motioned Nevarez to head for the stairs “Zyrok out.”

            “Head up ASAP Private. We got ourselves a ride out of here.” Zyrok opened the door for Nevarez.

            Zyrok looked down the stairs and saw zombies frantically running up the stairs.

            “Hurry, they’re coming.” Zyrok ran behind Nevarez.

            Zyrok and Nevarez busted out the roof doors and saw Casey waving them over beside a hovering Pelican.

            “Come on boss.” Casey shouted.

            Zyrok and Nevarez ran as fast as they could with a mob of zombies chasing after them. They leapt onto the Pelican and Casey fired the turret as the Pelican lifted off.

            Zyrok saw two massive zombies with spikes smashing the hospital they were in, followed by a sea of zombies pouring from the entrance. Zyrok turned and looked at the marines sitting inside the Pelican and saw Forester, Taylor, and two other marines.

            “Where are the others?” Zyrok looked dazzled.

            “I didn’t want to tell you in the hospital, but I guess I’ll have to tell you now.” Casey replied and looked at Forester.

            “They died defending the outpost?” Zyrok asked with a sad face.

            “No, they died during the mission two days ago.” Casey apologetically said.

            “They were heroes and they died honorably.” Forester chimed in.

            “Aww hell.” Zyrok covered his face.

            “It’s alright Zyrok. We all feel the same.” Forester expressed her sympathies.

            “Did we accomplish the mission?” Zyrok asked.

            “Yes, we did. Their sacrifice did not go unnoticed.” Forester replied.

            Zyrok felt upset as he blamed himself for the death of his marines. He felt sick to his stomach and wanted to throw up. Zyrok looked at the relief center which was now distant and turned to face Forester.

            “What the heck were those two massive zombies that had spikes?” Zyrok asked.

            “From the data you collected, it seems to be some sort of boss which is actually a bigger version of the muscular spiky zombie.” Forester answered.

            “Boss?” Zyrok asked.

          “We call it the Titan now. The muscular mini version is the Bone. It was the Titan that killed our team.” Forester commented.

            “Did you kill it? Zyrok looked away and stared at his feet.

            “Yes, we did.” Forester replied.

            “We sure as hell gave it our best shot.” Casey pitched in.

            “Good, I assume those were two new ones back there?” Zyrok pointed at the center.

            “Yeah, not sure where they came from.” Forester replied.

           Zyrok’s head was spinning. He was not fully recovered and he had already ran a flight of stairs to avoid death. He sat comfortably in his seat and passed out.