As the Helicopter flew past the city, the group inside watched the destruction all around them. Burning buildings, the dead on the streets, and other survivors waving for help from their own rooftops. Gerry and his family started to break down as they were finally safe while Logan and Akane Just sat back to relax. Logan quickly passed out as he had to keep awake the night before, while Akane adjusted herself to lean on his body while pulling out a gameboy DS. It was something she took from Dawn of the Dead and booted it up for some classic pokemon goodness.
When the copter broke past the city's coast and was now above the Atlantic, the people inside shifted as the kids hovered around Akane as she played her game. Logan was dead asleep and was being used as a seat for Gerry's youngest while Tommy and Rachel were huddled together on Akane's right as she played. The sight had the three parents smirking at the normalcy the action was and genuinely calmed down enough for Gerry to join Logan in sleeping. Karin and Maria started to converse while the soldiers gazed out of the copter slightly sleep deprived given the constant mission work. The flight took a few hours and when touch down occurred both Logan and Gerry needed to be shaken awake.
The group was let off and the soldiers switched out as the copter was refueled for the next mission. Gerry led the group and both Akane and Logan sighed as they had to give up their guns to the military. They were told they would get them back, but the two had other ideas given the story's plot and just nodded and handed over their guns. with that they were led to a compartment with six bunks. The kids and mothers got situated while Gerry, Logan, and Akane started to talk to Thierry.
"We're not dropping Anchor again, you're safe" Thierry told Gerry and the man shook his head.
"I don't care about me, I-" he started, but Thierry interrupted with "they're safe." The father breathed out in more relief while the couple just looked over to the families before looking back to the man with answers. He eyed the two but didn't say anything at the moment. "Is this world wide? Is anybody doing better than us?" Gerry asked. Thierry almost answered but Karin cut him off.
"Honey," she drew Gerry's attention, "have this conversation somewhere else please." He looked over to his kids and then to Maria and Tomas and nodded before nodding to Thierry who started to walk away. Logan and Akane followed and Thierry looked back at them.
"And you two are?" he asked.
"Akane and Logan Jackson," the petite Japanese woman said. Logan nodded to that and Thierry nodded and looked at Gerry.
"They kept me and my family safe Thierry, we likely wouldn't be here if not for them" Gerry defended but Thierry held his hands up.
"I'm not here to fight you on why they deserve to be here, I just wanted to know who they are," he said while walking again. "Listen, the President and Four of six Joint Chiefs are dead and The V.P is AWOL." Gerry looks struck at the news and both Logan and Akane grimace. "Gerry this is a plague that has spread worldwide and from what I've seen could bring about the end if we don't hurry." They walked through a few hallways and into a command center that was a flurry of movement.
Screens were lit up with statistics that told of infected cities across the globe, soldiers were on the phone desperate to gather information landside, and unfortunately unable to give those on the other end a chance at escape to safety. Everyone looked tired and some even had broken down at the moment as they could tell this was just the beginning to this madness. Gerry looked mortified while the couple gazed over at the shouting in the background. a young man was surrounded by doctors who were trying to discuss what the world was truly dealing with and having a damn time of it.
"Dr. Fassbach, Harvard grad who specializes in Virology," Thierry provided as the two men caught the couples gaze and followed it. The young Dr. was leading the group and drawing comparisons to older plagues to help find a possible containment or cure. "He's our best bet at figuring out what this thing is."
"you all read the same thing I did...zombie," a scientist said, causing the rest to groan and shout at the ridiculous nature of the word. Akane snorted and Logan smirked while Thierry explained what the fight was about.
"There was a memo from Camp Humphreys in South Korea. In it was the earliest mention of the word zombie" he said and looked at Gerry with desperation. "We've lost contact at the moment, but this could lead us to the origin and hopefully closer to a cure." Gerry looked at the hope for the world and shook his head.
"He's just a kid," Gerry said. Thierry nodded and Akane and Logan looked at Gerry.
"So are we, yet we kicked some serious ass old man" Akane said and Gerry snorted while Thierry smirked at the two young mercs he assumed. At that moment every soldier stood up as a shout went out. The four looked over and saw the captain of the carrier make his way through the crowd. He was bee lining it to Gerry, Thierry, and the couple.
"Under-Secretary" he greeted Thierry who nodded before looking over to Gerry. "The Under-Secretary here says you were his best investigator when you were at the U.N." the Captain said. He then looked at the couple. He narrowed his eyes at them before curtly nodding. "Logan and Akane Jackson Aka Bonnie and Clyde." he then got handed a file and read it. "Dishonorable discharge by refusing a command from your superior on your first year of deployment for the United States Marines. Not a month later and you both went private and made quite the name for yourselves in the problem areas of our world." Everyone was looking at the two who didn't show any emotion, while internally they were a little shocked at having backstory. the Captain smirked at them and shook his head.
"I read the report on the discharge and the shitshow that it was, we lost two future seals that day, but glad to have you back with us."
"Didn't realize the draft was reinstated" Logan said.
"In times of difficulty son we will call on every man and woman we can" the captain responded and then Looked back to Gerry. "You've found yourself some elites Mr. Lane. That's good news as I want you to head out with both them and a group of my men. you'll be helping Dr. Fassbach find whatever it is he needs." Gerry looked shocked at this news and looked at Thierry in betrayal.
"you saved us..." Gerry started.
"I wanted the circumstances to speak for themselves," Thierry said.
"No," Gerry said, shaking his head and Thierry grew upset. "Captain, I'm not your guy" the Captain visibly grew colder as he started listing Gerry's past.
"You were on the ground during the Liberian Civil War, Investigating Chechen war crimes in Sri Lanka in '07" the Captain listed. "What's out there is ten times worse, and we both know Dr. Fassbach won't last a night if we sent him out alone."
"Gerry, the Captain is sending SEAL's with you as an outer security force, and from what the Captain has said about these two, you'll be more than protected" Thierry says.
"Out of the pan, and into the fire" Akane said with a chuckle.
"No," Gerry says.
"My guys will get you three in, you assist the doctor, Pursue any leads, my guys will get you out. we do the heavy lifting" the Captain says.
"I can't help you," Gerry says. "I can't leave my family."
The Captain frowns and then finally puts his foot down. "Take a look around here Mr. Lane, everyone here is here because they are needed. They serve a purpose, and as such have earned their right to be here. If you don't serve a purpose...well there are plenty of people who are waiting for their spot here." Gerry looked at the Captain and Thierry as his heart sank at what they were asking of him. "You want to save your family, let's figure out how we can stop this."
#####
Gerry left to go give his wife the bad news as the couple were directed to the armory to gear up with better weapons then their consumer arms. Akane was thrilled as she walked around the heavy duty weaponry and started grabbing her favorites. Logan didn't really focus on the selection as he grabbed the standard load out. a Beretta M9 for his secondary with a M4A1 as his primary. Akane found her hands on two classic 1911's with black finish and brown handle grips. She also grabbed a M4A1 to match her husband.
With that done the couple also did a bit of DIY on their gear as they reinforced their defense with kevlar to help cover the places rubber and dense plastic wouldn't bend to allow movement. they weren't worried about getting shot so they ditched the bullet proof vests and went light and silent as best they could. With a few additions of better combat boots, suppressors on their guns, and Logan finding some compression camo gear to better fit his style, the couple was set to head out. The two left the armory and met up with Gerry, the Doc, and the team who held a raised brow at the get up.
"You're the Elites?" the SEAL elite said and Akane smirked as he walked past in her apoc duster and wide brimmed hat. Logan nodded as he walked past in the tactical camo attire he replaced his plain attire before. When they got into the cargo plane Logan handed Gerry and the doc bite proof gear they made for the two. Gerry raised his eyebrows but saw the sense in it and quickly put on the gear that was surprisingly lighter than he thought it would be.
"Is this really necessary?" the Doc asked and Akane handed him a helmet to go with the gear.
"Our job is to protect you two" She said. "Those things out there are fast and ruthless Doc, better to stop a possible bite then chance it." The Doc sighed and put on the bite gear but left the helmet to the side for now. When the SEAL team headed in and got strapped down with the rest, the cargo plane started up and took off. As the plane rumbled down the runway the SEAL team and the two Civvies grew tense, the couple were all smiles as they got to head back out into the fun.