14. The Director's Decision
The surrounding areas of Luton airport were frantic with activity. Quarantine fences had already been erected and the army and police were positioned at all entry points. Near the main terminal, news vans had parked and reporters were already talking their cameras while various military and security personnel were rushing around. At a checkpoint, a vehicle pulled up. The person inside showed their ID to the soldier and was let through, driving up to the terminal. The car parked short of the ruckus and a woman in a smart white blouse accompanied with a black suit jacket and black trousers stepped out, walking toward the commotion. She had blonde hair and bright green eyes. Her ID badge hung on her belt. It read "Special Agent Anna Shepherd – Bioterrorism Counter Force".
Anna approached the nearest solider and asked him where the person in charge was. She spoke with a smooth English accent. Anna went in the direction she was pointed to and approached a tall, weary looking man. He was barking orders at people in front of him and on the phone simultaneously. Anna stepped in front of him and waited for him to get off the phone.
'I'll call you back,' he said snappily. 'Who the hell are you?'
'Special Agent Anna Shepherd,' Anna introduced herself, holding out a hand. 'Bioterrorism Counter Force.'
'I was under the impression the BCF were supposed to prevent things like this from happening!' the man snapped, ignoring her hand. 'Dennis Roth. Why are you here, Shepherd?'
'My boss told me to come down and… oversee what's happening.'
'The hell you are!' Dennis protested. 'I'm running this show and I say what's happening!'
Gunfire sounded as a few infected attempted to jump over the quarantine fences. The news reporters suddenly jumped into action, eager to get a view of what was going on.
'I don't think they need to see this,' Anna thought aloud. Dennis sighed.
'Get all nonessentials out of here!' he ordered. Some reporters protested.
'You can't do this!' one of them cried.
'Have you heard of freedom of the press?' another yelled.
'Have you heard that I don't give a damn?' Dennis retorted. He looked back at Anna who stood defiantly in front of him with her arms folded. Dennis sighed and nodded at her.
'What's the situation?' she asked.
'Three easyJet planes were involved,' he explained. 'One from Belfast and another from Glasgow landed, releasing infected passengers. A third from Cyprus crashed into the ATC tower before destroying the north side of the terminal. This one too released infected passengers.'
'Is it the same infection that destroyed the Americas and Canada?' Anna asked.
'It appears so,' Dennis replied.
'I take it you've grounded all domestic flights?'
'Of course.'
'We should investigate easyJet,' Anna suggested. 'Since the terrorists used easyJet planes, it's not crazy think that someone in the company might be involved.'
'I doubt that they would be involved,' Dennis dismissed. 'I'll have someone look into it, though.'
'How did they keep a plane full of infected secure?' Anna thought aloud. Dennis looked at the wreckage of one of the planes.
'One of them didn't…' he muttered. 'We're not going to have a chance to find out, though.' Anna looked to him, slightly surprised.
'Why?' she asked.
'There are various different mutations,' Dennis said. 'If one of the larger, stronger, infected breaks out it will open the floodgates for the rest of those bastards to leak into the rest of the country. We've managed to contain it here at the airport so we're going to destroy the airport.'
'You're going to bomb it?' Anna gasped. Dennis nodded. 'What about the flight recorders or black boxes? They must have information that we could use. If you drop a bomb on them; it will destroy all evidence!'
'I know, I don't like it either but we need to contain this.'
'You're not going to send someone in to try and retrieve it?' Anna asked.
'You've known me for a good thirty seconds, Shepherd,' Dennis said, 'so I'm going to have explain this to you: My family were in Canada when the infection broke out six months ago. I refuse to let anyone else suffer the same fate that they did. Do you understand?' Anna looked surprised. 'Bombers have already been launched. This entire area will be ground zero in less than ten minutes.' Anna looked over in the distance. The terminal seemed so close and no one was going to try and preserve any evidence. Dennis walked away, barking more orders. He called for people to prepare to fall back when the bombers get close. Anna ran toward one of the makeshift tents and spoke to the man inside, wearing a biohazard suit.
'Agent Shepherd,' she smiled politely. 'I need your clothes.'
Dennis was walking by the quarantine fence when he was ambushed by reporters.
'Excuse me, sir,' the reporter asked. 'Can you tell us what the plan of action for the airport is?'
'You shouldn't be here!' Dennis insisted. 'All I'm going to say is that the situation is under control, now please. You must get back to a safe distance.'
'Sir, is it true that you're bombing the airport?'
'We need to contain this infection and… who the hell are you, anyway?'
'Karen Redgrave,' the reported said, 'Channel Five.' Before Dennis could say anything else, Karen jumped into further questioning. 'So you're not going to look for any survivors?'
'We need to act promptly while we have the situation under control,' Dennis said.
'So you're saying that you could loose control of this situation at any point?'
'Listen to me, Karen,' Dennis stepped forward defiantly. 'There is no chance that this situation can escalate further. Everything is under complete control.'
A car drove through the quarantine fence behind where Dennis was talking, in clear view of the cameras. Dennis winced as he heard the crash. The car headed straight for the airport terminal. Inside, Anna was dressed in a biohazard suit, focusing intently on the terminal. A pistol lay on the passenger seat. Ahead was a set of cracked glass doors. Without hesitation, Anna drove her car straight through and skidded to a halt. She grabbed the pistol and stepped outside, the tail of the crashed plane scattered in front of her. There were infected running toward her. Anna locked her vehicle and gave it a sharp kick. The alarm started to wail.
As infected ran for her, Anna managed to push her way through them, shooting any that attempted to bite or scratch at her. With the infected distracted, Anna pulled herself toward the tail of the plane. She searched desperately for the black box in the rubble. She gasped in delight when she saw the bright orange device poking out in some rubble. She pulled it out and held it tight. Anna suddenly realised that noise of the car alarm had stopped.
She turned and saw her car on its roof and the infected around it on the ground, their bodies contorted and bones broken. The reason was clear; a tank was standing over them, taking out its anger on them. The beast suddenly noticed Anna, holding the bright orange box. It made a sudden charge for her, roaring in anger. Anna, in turn, ran for it. As they got close to each other, she slid along the ground in between its legs. Anna jumped to her feet while still sliding and ran to her car. Using the black box as hammer, she hit the fuel line under her car, causing petrol to leak. She ran away as quickly as she could. When the tank came up to the car, it punched it away with ease. However, the force caused the petrol to ignite and the entire vehicle exploded, sending the flaming tank flying a few feet. However it got back up and began storming for Anna once again. It was even angrier.
Anna ran around the tank and headed for the departure gates. She pushed her way past the infected and made her way to the nearest boarding gate. Running through the gate and onto the tarmac, she saw a parked plane with a ladder leading up to it. As she ran for it, the tank crashed through the building behind, sending debris everywhere. She ran to the stairs, disengaging the ground locks. Anna ran up and kicked the stairs away as she got inside the plane. She ran to the cockpit and found the controls that she needed. As she disengaged the safety devices, the tank ran underneath the plane and smashed it with its massive fists. Before it could do any real damage, Anna retracted the landing gears and the entire plane came crashing down on the beast, crushing it. Sighing, Anna stepped outside and looked up at the sky. She immediately began running. The quarantined area had been cleared and the reporters and security team had retreated to a safer distance. In the air, two miles away, three aircraft bombers approached Luton. Their payload doors opened, ready to drop the bombs. Anna heard the bombers in the distance and started running a lot faster.
Dennis yelled hollow orders at the reporters to stop filming, who completely ignored him. Getting the soldiers to usher everyone back, he turned to the airport, looking apprehensively for anyone. The bombers could now be seen approaching. Their payload was dropped and explosives fell to the airport. Anna ran as fast as she could, still clutching the black box securely. She got further from the airport but the bombs falling were widespread.
'Sir,' a soldier handed Dennis some binoculars and pointed him in the direction of where to look. Dennis looked through them and saw Anna heading for them. The bombs suddenly impacted the airport and she was knocked over in the blast. Luton airport went up in a spectacular fireball, destroying everything inside, all traces of infection and all potential evidence of what happened… with exception of the black box, which Anna was hunched over. She rolled over and surveyed the destruction. She stood up and headed back for the security perimeter.
'I don't… believe it,' Dennis said, through uncontrollable anger. As Anna neared the camp, she removed the biohazard suit. Stepping in front of them all, she handed Dennis the black box.
'From me to you,' she said.
'What the hell was that?' Dennis spat. 'I can't believe… I have… what the hell were you doing?'
'My job,' Anna said, with a slight lack of breath. 'Have that analysed and we can-'
'Shepherd, you do not give orders!' Dennis yelled.
'Oh, alright,' Anna said sarcastically. 'I'll just wait until you get off your high horse.' Dennis shook his head dismissively. 'I could always go back into the city and have this analysed,' Anna said.
'Then why don't you?' Dennis yelled.
'Because you're in charge,' Anna replied calmly. Dennis sighed and took the box from Anna.
*
Zoey looked around the hallway nervously. She walked quickly past the apartment doors on either side of her. Zoey came up to apartment number 4; she knocked on the wood a couple of times and waited. After a few moments the door unlocked and swung open.
'I'm sorry to come to you unannounced,' Zoey said. 'But I've nowhere else to go.' Stood before her in the doorway, Admiral Richard Jaeger had a mixture of confusion and surprise on his face.
Inside the apartment, Zoey was sat on the couch. Jaeger stepped inside with a pot of tea. He poured Zoey a cup and she took it gratefully.
'This is a nice place,' Zoey said in a weak attempt to make small talk. Jaeger poured himself a cup of tea and lifted it to his mouth.
'What happened?' he asked. Zoey sighed.
'Bill and Francis were attacked,' she explained. 'So was Louis. From what he said, it sounds like assassins or something. They even put a bomb in his car… and mine. I was chased through the street by someone, too. I didn't know where to go and Graham's phone's off because he's at his meeting so… I just ran here.' Jaeger nodded in understanding. Zoey's phone suddenly started to ring, causing her to jump. When she saw who was calling, she answered quickly.
'Francis!' she exclaimed. 'Where are you?'
'We're at the train station,' Francis told her. 'Bill and I will be in London in about an hour and a half…'
'Good,' she sighed, relieved. 'That's good… I'll meet you at Waterloo when your train arrives.'
'You're okay then?' Francis asked.
'Yeah,' Zoey sighed. 'I'm in the Admiral's house, so he'll keep me safe.'
Sat at his desk, the Director stared at the screen of his laptop. He grinned as he saw Zoey's phone conversation transcribed before him.
'I knew she'd run to Jaeger,' the Director chuckled to Liz who was stood by his desk. 'Call Martin and Sam. Have Martin intercept the two on the train but make sure he keeps Francis alive.' Liz nodded. 'Have Sam return here. I've got a plan for London Waterloo…'
'Shall I inform the lab to prepare another sample?' Liz asked.
'Yes…' said the Director. 'I have a feeling British Rail Services are about to be delayed. Permanently.'
*
Bill and Francis boarded the train.
'I think we should sit at the front,' Bill suggested. Francis, not bothering to ask why, agreed. As they made their way through the carriage, Martin boarded just as the doors shut. The train slowly began to move. They were trapped.
*
Louis was sat in the interrogation room looking at his reflection, tapping an empty cup of coffee with his finger. He sighed and checked the time, wondering how much longer he would have to wait. His question was answered when the door opened and a tall, thin woman in a smart suit stepped inside. She had thick red hair.
'Karen!' Louis exclaimed.
'I heard what had happened to you,' she said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder as she moved to sit down. 'Are you alright?'
'A little shaken…' Louis said. 'How did you find out?'
'Well I tried ringing you,' Karen explained, 'and when I got no response I heard about the car crash on the news. I went to the police when I thought it was you in the car.'
'I appreciate your concern,' Louis smiled.
'I gave you some really bad news,' Karen sighed. 'I was afraid you… tried to commit suicide or something.'
'I survived the outbreak,' Louis joked. 'I'm not going to kill myself.'
'Glad to hear it,' Karen smiled. 'What the hell are you doing here?'
'They think I'll be safer here for the moment,' Louis explained. 'Since the person who tried to kill me is obviously a professional.'
'Why would someone want to kill you?' Karen asked.
'I don't know,' Louis shook his head. 'The only thing I can think of is something to do with business… well that's what I assumed anyway.'
'You don't think that anymore?'
'I spoke to some of my… friends,' Louis explained. 'Some of the people I escaped with… they were attacked too.' Karen sat back in her chair.
'Jesus…' she muttered. 'What are you going to do?'
'I don't know…' Louis said. 'When I get out of here I'll… lay low for a while, I guess.'
'You're free to stay with me,' Karen said, holding his hand tenderly. Louis took hers and smiled. Karen leant forward and kissed him. She stroked his cheek and smiled. 'Oh Louis…' she said softly.
Karen suddenly smashed his head onto the table. Lifting up the back of her shirt, she took out a knife and swung it to him. Louis pushed himself away as the blade hit the table. Before he could think, Karen swung her leg through the air, kicking him in the face. Louis staggered to one end of the table while Karen made her way around to the other. Louis pushed the table toward her, attempting to pin her against the wall. Karen kicked the table up and pushed Louis against the mirror. As Louis pushed back, he saw the blade still stuck in the table. He pulled it out and jumped free from the restrain. He held the knife up defensively.
'Karen,' he said. 'What are you doing?' Karen disarmed Louis effortlessly by lunging forward and tearing the blade from him. She moved to stab him but Louis avoided the attack by jumping to the side, grabbing her wrist and holding her in a body lock. Kicking the table away, Louis restrained her, looking in front of the mirror. 'Stop this!' he cried. Karen head butted Louis with the back of her head and while he was dazed, ran up the wall and mirror and launched herself behind him. She then kicked him forward with such force, Louis crashed through the two way glass, rolling to a stop. Karen jumped through and pinned him down. Louis grabbed the closest thing at hand, a shard of glass and swung it blindly.
Karen gasped, choking at something. Louis looked up and saw blood seeping through a gash in her neck. She grabbed the wound, dropping the knife. Karen fell to the ground, choking on blood. She then stopped twitching. Louis got to his feet, out of breath. He wasn't sure how he would be able to explain this.
Staggering out of the room, Louis looked around the police station. He was confused to see the corridors were deserted. He walked around, searching for somebody. He finally saw someone in police uniform.
'Excuse me,' he said. The man turned around, his face void of any sign of humanity. 'Oh no…' Louis gasped. The man suddenly broke out into a run, dashing toward him. Louis ran away as fast as he could. He followed the exit signs and saw the fire exit in front of him. He pushed the bar to get out, but was met with resistance. The door would not open. He was locked in. Louis turned around and saw the infected run toward him. He was suddenly attacked from the side by another infected. The one chasing him jumped him, too. Louis was on the ground, attempting to get them off him. One of them tried to bite Louis in the shoulder. He punched him away and got to his feet. As he tried to run away, more infected grabbed Louis and pulled him down to the ground. He let out a yell that no one could hear.
*
'Has the police station been contaminated?' the Director asked his assistant.
'Yes,' she replied. 'Karen has made sure that no one can get in or out as well.'
'Perfect,' the Director grinned. 'What about Sam?'
'Sam has just taken the sample and is heading for the standby position in Waterloo Station. He will release the infectious agent when Martin leaves the train with the package.'
'Good,' the Director said softly. 'Make sure Martin keeps him alive. We can't risk having him die… not yet, anyway.' The Director turned his chair and looked out of the window. He sighed, putting his hands together. Liz was still stood behind his desk. 'I have a good feeling about this,' the Director told her. 'A very good feeling indeed…'
'Sir?' Liz asked.
'Well before I was surrounded by those that defied incompetence,' the Director explained. 'But now… my word things are moving so much more… smoothly. Well except for Martin. Have Martin "retired" when he comes back with Francis.' Liz nodded and stepped out of the office. The Director sat back in his chair and sighed. 'Yes,' he said to himself. 'So much better…'
*
'Avery Ingram,' Anna said, sat in the electronics vehicle that was parked beyond the blast zone of Luton. Dennis stepped inside a look of distaste for Anna still on his face.
'What?' he asked. Anna turned to him, a slight smile on her face.
'You owe me an apology,' she teased.
'Like hell I do,' Dennis spat. 'Just tell me what you found.' Anna chuckled lightly and stood up.
'You know Avery Ingram?' she asked.
'The guy who used to run CEDA?' Dennis said. Anna nodded.
'From the looks of it, he was the one who caused the infection,' Anna suggested. Dennis' face fell.
'Come off it, Shepherd,' he dismissed. 'Someone else said that before and he was crucified for it.'
'Richard Jaeger did go about it the wrong way,' Anna nodded, 'but the evidence is clear here. There's two radio conversations between the pilots and "the Director". Afterward, they pilots discuss crashing the plane, as were Ingram's orders.'
'It's all very…' Dennis trailed off. 'Look, I think we're going to need more evidence than just a few flight recordings.'
'I agree…' Anna put her hand to her chin. 'What we need… is Richard Jaeger.'
'What?' Dennis asked.
'He was very vocal about what Ingram was suspected of doing,' she explained. 'After all the survivors were rescued from Canada and the Americas, he blamed Ingram for the sinking of the USS Abraham Lincoln. Jaeger started an intensive campaign to bring Ingram to justice. I'm sure he has information we could use!' Dennis was silent. Anna stepped out of the truck.
'Where are you going?' he asked.
'I'm going to see Jaeger. He lives somewhere in London. Can I borrow your car?' Dennis took out the keys and shook his head.
'I'll drive, come on,' he said. Anna looked surprised.
'What?' she asked. 'You seemed… unsure.'
'I still am,' Dennis said. 'I just don't want you driving my car.'
