UNSCDF3 Chapter 12- Taking Care of Each Other

Downtown Kandahar, Kandahar, Afghanistan

British Embassy

May 11, 2001

1205 Local Time

        “Not a bad day after all.” Zyrok looked at a stockpile of canned goods in a small closet.

        “Take everything?” Sarah picked up a can of tinned hotdogs.

        “Not all, but some. These canned foods are heavy and decrease our speed.” Zyrok looked at a shelf full of tinned vegetables.

        “Alright.” Sarah grabbed three cans and stuffed it into her backpack.

        Zyrok did the same except he got five cans. Sarah looked at Zyrok and grinned as she grabbed one more can into her backpack.

        “Not so greedy now…” Zyrok teased.

        “That one was for you…since you eat a lot.” Sarah reasoned.

        “Oh…calling me fat now eh?” Zyrok shot an evil glare.

        A clatter was heard outside the closet and Zyrok quickly spun around gun ready. He motioned for Sarah to stay quiet and he slowly stuck his head out the closet. A zombie was walking aimlessly in the room kicking over broken bottles. Zyrok charged out of the room to attack the zombie when suddenly he slipped on some papers which happened to be in his way. He fell to the ground with a loud thud and the zombie immediately headed for him. Before Zyrok could get a clean shot at the zombie, the zombie had pounced onto the marine and clawed at his chest. A few pieces of fabric got ripped from the flak jacket as the zombie attempted to reveal Zyrok’s organs. Zyrok elbowed one arm away and kicked the zombie in the stomach. This only enraged the zombie making it harder for Zyrok to get back on his feet. The flak jacket was deteriorating rapidly as the zombie went on a clawing rampage.

        “Argh!” Zyrok cursed as he tried to block the hits.

        Zyrok knew he was going to die and all it took was one normal zombie to catch him off guard. He attempted to pull out his kukri, but only got it knocked away from his hands. A shadow casted over Zyrok and Zyrok looked up. Sarah swung the golf club sideways into the cheekbones of the flesh-eating monster sending its lower jaw flying off. The zombie looked up at Sarah and roared with fury. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zyrok manipulated the zombie’s center of gravity and tossed it aside. He made a quick dash for the kukri and impaled the blade into its right eye.

        “Thanks Sarah.” Zyrok panted.

        “You…” Sarah pointed at Zyrok’s chest as he stood up.

        Zyrok looked at his chest and saw blood dripping off the body armor. He touched his chest and winced in pain as the adrenaline wore off. Sarah looked at Zyrok with concerned eyes and held her weapon waiting to strike.

        “Sarah, I’m alright.” Zyrok sat down to rest.

        “Zyrok…you…” Sarah held the club firmly in her hands.

        “I need to rest.” Zyrok breathed deeply.

        “You are going to turn aren’t you?” Sarah looked with worried eyes.

        “The blood not transmitted directly. Besides, I had my shot of nanites.” Zyrok touched his chest to examine for internal injuries.

        “Huh?” Sarah was confused.

        “The UNSC has a technology to fight the virus. It’s expensive and hard to make. I was fortunate enough to get a shot.” Zyrok explained slowly.

        “Will you turn?” Sarah pointed at the dead zombie corpse beside them.

        “No Sarah, I won’t. But, I still need to get patched up. After all, I can still bleed to death.” Zyrok removed his flak jacket slowly.

        Upon closer inspection, the chest had a moderate amount of swelling and some open cuts. Zyrok knelt to one knee and opened his backpack. He rummaged through the contents and found a roll of bandages.

        “Help me.” Zyrok lifted up his shirt.

        Blood that once dried underneath the shirt was wiped off making the wounds open again.

        “Ahh…” Zyrok looked at his chest as blood oozed out.

        “What can I do?” Sarah took the bandages from Zyrok.

        “Wrap it over my chest. Wrap it tight to apply pressure.” Zyrok directed.

       Sarah unrolled the bandages and began to wrap it around Zyrok’s bloody chest. After the first layer was applies, what was once a white cloth had now turned to a dark shade of red. Carefully, Sarah began to wrap a second later when it ran out.

        “Any more in my backpack?” Zyrok held the loose end of the bandage for Sarah.

        “I don’t think so…” Sarah emptied out the contents in Zyrok’s backpack.

        “Ok, clip on the safety pin and hold the bandage in place.” Zyrok handed a safety pin from the package of the medical supply.

        “Ok.” Sarah replied quietly.

        Slowly and carefully, Sarah clipped the safety pin from the loose end and attached it to the dressings.

        “There, I’m done.” Sarah turned to face Zyrok.

        “Thank you Sarah.” Zyrok flipped his shirt down.

        Zyrok touched his chest and felt a soft layer of medical dressing. Feeling satisfied, he got up to his feet and placed all the supplies back into his backpack.

        “This?” Sarah held up the damaged flak jacket.

        “No, I don’t need it any more. It’s no good.” Zyrok took the flak jacket and tossed it aside.

        “Oh okay.” Sarah looked at the armor on the ground.

        “Let’s get going. We need to find medical supplies too now.” Zyrok looked at the blood marks on the ground.

        The pair exited the room simultaneously and went on to the next room. The room was similar to the previous room they were in except everything was in perfect order as if no one had touched it.

        “Shame…” Zyrok laughed.

        “What?” Sarah raised an eyebrow.

        “A perfect room in good condition. After we loot it, it will be just the same as the other rooms.” Zyrok walked to a desk and opened the drawers.

       “Maybe we can find things that weren’t looted.” Sarah walked to a metal cabinet mounted on the wall.

        “Perhaps…” Zyrok removed the drawer and dumped the contents on the desk.

        Paper, pens, and coins rolled on the desk and fell onto the ground. Nothing useful was there for the plucking so Zyrok cleared the desk by pushing everything to the ground. He continued to proceed with the next drawer. One by one, the drawers in the desk were emptied onto the desk and later tossed to the ground like all junk.

        “Nothing useful.” Zyrok sighed in frustration.

        “I found some antibiotics.” Sarah held a small bottle of white capsules.

        “That’s good. I think I need a few pills for my chest.” Zyrok studied the medical ingredients marked on the bottle.

        “Here, I’ll go look at the other things.” Sarah gave the bottle to Zyrok and resumed her search.

        Zyrok read the application label and popped open the lid. He grabbed two pills out and tossed them into his mouth and swallowed it.

        “Done, thanks for finding this.” Zyrok placed the bottle into his backpack and watched Sarah.

        “Yeah, no problem.” Sarah replied without turning her head.

        “Hey Sarah…” Zyrok walked to a drawer beside him.

        “Yeah?” Sarah continued searching.

        “Do you think we will be found?” Zyrok turned his head.

        “I don’t know. Why do you ask?” Sarah tossed useless items to the ground.

        “I don’t know…I just don’t know.” Zyrok resumed his search in deep thought.

        “You are a soldier, I think they can find you.” Sarah replied innocently.

        “I am…” Zyrok nodded.

        Zyrok knew he shouldn’t give up hope. Sarah had been in this position for sometime and he needed to be strong for her and his own sake. He bit his lip and continued to search without saying anything for the next five minutes.

        “You okay Zyrok?” Sarah turned to look at Zyrok.

        “I’m fine, thanks for asking.” Zyrok smiled and closed his hands into a fist.

Erazi, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Russian Communications Outpost

May 11, 2001

1300 Local Time

        Dimitri stood behind two soldiers looking at their computers whilst talking on their headsets.

        “Status report.” Dimitri crossed his arms.

        “Captain Dima’s forces have engaged the UNSC.” one soldier took off his headset and looked at Dimitri.

        “And…” Dimitri asked impatiently for the results.

        “A victory sir. Although we lost two scout choppers, it was sufficient enough to wipe out the ship and its entire crew before the rest of Dima’s men got there.” the soldier answered.

        “Any survivors?” Dimitri smiled evilly.

        “A few stragglers in the sea. One that we found was a big fish…” the soldier looked at his desk and pulled out a piece of paper.

        “Oh?” Dimitri raised an eyebrow.

        “A Captain Blake. I’m guessing he was the captain of the ship.” the soldier handed the paper over to Dimitri.

        “Very good work. Inform Dima of his excellent work. Tell him to bring the prisoners over here for interrogation.” Dimitri ordered.

       “Yes sir.” the soldier placed his headset and resumed typing on his computer.

        “The UNSC is in my hands again…this time it won’t be that easy for them to escape.” Dimitri grinned.

        “What’s that sir?” the soldier removed his headset.

        “It’s nothing. Get to your business. I want this settled as soon as possible.” Dimitri waved the soldier away.

        The soldier nodded silently and immediately turned to his computer to relay Dimitri’s orders. Dimitri glanced at the two soldiers and stormed off down the halls without saying another word.