Author's Note: Can't skip this section!
Good evening ya'll! How are you doing today? I was really suprised I managed to crank this out so soon but this story has sunk it's claws into and is not letting go. The first section of this is actually what started the whole thing. Though it was NOT TSwift who inspired it but I was listening to this song last night while writing this part and it was too funny to let go. I hate flashback scenes most of the time but after some thought I decided I had to do it if I wanted to get to Scotch much sooner. The next two chapters will likely hold major flashback scenes but after that it will be Present time moving forward. ::sighs:: Now I no longer have a reason to put off my history paper.
2nd author's note and is one you can skip:
lizb1813: Gah! Thank you for that, I thought the name looked weird but I was on a roll.
darkjewlledassassin: NO! You must write one, I decree it! ::begs:: Please?!
redqueen74: I know right?! I may have been too loud in my opinion in the lunch room Monday. I have to wait to watch it then and there might have been cussing. Ok, there was a lot of cussing.
maeyan181: That's what I thought too. (mmmwwwahhahaha)
Thank you so much StarTraveler and Sousedancer!
Shake It Off
Dedicated to Gunnery Sargent Ray Clevenger, who would have laughed his butt off at this first part and then kicked my ass for the next part. May you have never ending books, and a good porch chair with the Man Upstairs. See you on the flipside sir.
1 1/2 years later-Present
"...heartbreakers gonna break, break, break and the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake.."
" You do know you sound like a dying cat in heat right?"
"Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake..!"
"Can't you at least get the chorus right?! It's 4 breaks and 4 fakes for crying out loud!"
Muffled laughter streamed through the short wave radio between the traveling humves.
"Aww come on cowboy, you know you love that song! Sing it with me...I shake it off, shake it off..."
Tex stared at his radio in disbelief before he pressed the button again. "Gunny, please for the love of the Sweet Lord make them shut up!"
A deeper baritone answered him, "Corporal."
"Yes Gunny?"
"Carry on."
The teenager riding shotgun next to him let out a giggle before she clamped her mouth shut at his half hearted glare. He didn't have the heart to strengthen the glare. Lily hadn't had enough to laugh about for a long while and it was lightening to hear her laugh again. She smirked at him as more raucous laughter came from the radio.
He pressed the button again before he said, "Unbelievable! Is this what the much vaunted U.S. Marine Corps has come too?! Doc, reign in your minions please!"
Rachel laughed lightly from the front seat of the second humvee. "Now why would I care to do that? After all, I just want to...shake it off, shake it off..ah ah!"
A squawk was the only thing that answered her along with more laughter from the other two humvees. The deep baritone crackled back on the line as the song ended.
"Alright, start piping it down! We're getting close to the coast and the city, and within range of transmission to anything floating or passing by. Radio silence starts in 2 minutes."
Rachel picked up the speaker and pressed the button. "What do you think San Francisco will look like?"
Salt Lake City had been heartbreaking in the devastation that was now so common throughout what was left of the United States. Bodies just piled in the streets, left where they had finally succumbed to the Red Flu. Burned out stores where rioting had happened as the panic and flu spread. Empty of anything living now.
But it had also held hope. There were pockets of the surrounding areas that still held human life. Never would she have thought she would be grateful to a religion that secreted their families away in isolated groups even before the Apocalypse, but finding those pockets of surviving people had been uplifting. Getting into those pockets to help however had been a nightmare all on it's own.
"Hopefully we'll find survivors but considering it was a coastal town when all was said and done, I wouldn't hold out much hope." Daniel answered back.
"We can only hope then." She murmured before returning that speaker to the radio.
"Just so. Radio silence now in effect. Use for emergencies only. And NO Taylor, calling for a bathroom break is NOT an emergency."
A brief grin crossed Rachel's features before it slowly faded. "You ok?" A soft voice asked her from the left. She glanced over at the driver of the humvee. "I'm alright I guess. As much as anyone can be these days."
As Rachel turned back to face the windshield, she marveled at the turn of events in the last 18 months. When she and Tex had set out for Memphis she would never have guessed this is where she would have ended up.
Flashback
"So why Memphis?"
"Pardon?" Tex asked distractingly. He glanced around quickly as he continued to fill up the gas tank. They had managed to make it further than he thought before they had to stop to get more. Functioning gas stations were now in very short supply but he had managed to find a private diesel storage tank at a farm on the outskirts of Memphis. He topped off the truck before returning the hose to the tank.
"Tex. Why Memphis? What's here that you need to find?"
He turned and gave her a thoughtful look after a moment of silence. "My daughter, Lily. She and her mother lived at the Naval Base in Millington which is just north of Memphis."
Understanding spread across her face. "She's the young girl in your locket."
"Yeah, she is. Her mom married a Marine after we split and they settled there a few years back. I managed to get a message to them before we lost the cell towers. They were holed up at the base which had been turned into a safety zone. Zach had just gotten back from overseas and the base had just had an influx of sailors from the Great Lakes training center. They were holding their own when we lost contact. I'd like to make sure they're ok and to give them the cure." He briefly looked at the sky before turning to her with a raised eyebrow.
She shot him an affronted look before briskly nodding her head. "Of course, you didn't even need to ask."
Tex shot her a grin as he replied, "I know that Doc, don't be silly. That look was more along the lines of a different question. What do you plan to do now?"
"Do now?" She parroted back. She rubbed her forehead as they both climbed back into the truck.
"Yeah do now. You've saved what's left of the human race by making a cure. And not only do labs around the world now have it, and the makings for it, you've made a contagious cure. Only problem is you're the only one who has the contagious version at this point. So yeah, what's the plan after the trip to the base?" He slammed his door shut and turned the ignition.
"That's a damn good question actually." She muttered.
"Well, we have until we reach the base and a little time after for you to decide what we're doing next." He rejoined as he shifted the truck into drive and pulled out.
"We?" She asked softly. Rachel kept her gaze turned out toward the windshield. She hoped he would stay with her but wouldn't stop him if he wanted to go his own way. She felt like she had used him enough. Never would she be able to return his feelings that she knew he had towards her. Her heart and soul were embedded in the Nathan James and the man who commanded her. Pain rolled through her at the thought but she embraced it. It was hers and she owned it. It would be tempered by time but she knew it would probably never fade. She had never felt like this about anyone before and it tore her in two at the thought she would most likely never see him again. She hoped she would never see him again. The pain and betrayal on his face that last time she saw him would haunt her into the grave. A bitter smile twisted her lips at the thought. Even if she had known what the consequences would be when she killed Sorenson, she would do it all over again. He murdered 5 billion people in a matter of months in his arrogance. Arrogance that had lead to his own downfall. The image of a brown teddy bear floated through her head but she pushed it away.
It took her a few minutes to realize the unnatural silence. Glancing over at the driver's side she caught Tex giving her a deep look filled with compassion.
"Yeah Doc. We." He finally said. Exhaling in relief, she didn't question him further.
"Well this doesn't look like a good sight."
Both she and Tex stared at the huge red X that raced across the small guard station at the front of the base. The pieces of the guard fence lay off to the side and the rest of the base that they could see around the bend looked deserted.
"Let's continue on through. Maybe there is a section in the back and they put this up to warn away people." Rachel suggested uncertainty.
He gave her a look but put the truck back into gear and drove past the gate. They drove around the bend and headed for the barracks they could see past the main administrative building.
Or they would have before several sharp 'PINGs' hit the asphalt in front of them. Small chunks of it flew up in front of them as Tex slammed on the breaks.
"Hold it right there! Turn your vehicle around and head back out the gate!" A voice yelled from a small balcony on the second floor that jutted out from the main office.
Both Rachel and Tex raised their hands in the air before them. "I'm a doctor! I can help and we're not sick!" She yelled out her window.
"We've heard that before!" The man yelled back. "Turn your vehicle around and get going! This is a quarantined area and outsiders are not welcome!"
"Tex! What the bloody hell are you doing?!" Rachel whispered frantically as he opened the door and slid out with his hands still in the air. Her quick plan was to continue to try to convince the marksman, not step out of the somewhat meager but better than nothing shelter!
"Please, I'm just looking for my daughter. Her last location was this base and her name is Lily Rogers. Her mother's name is Sarah and her stepfather is Zach Blake and he was stationed here. I'm just looking for any information you may have, and then we'll continue on our way!" He yelled back while being very careful about keeping his hands in the air and not moving any further than the front of the truck.
The marksman paused for a minute before he yelled back, "Not a move closer! I'll contact the CO for permission to enter."
The man bent his head a little and began to mutter into his radio. After several minutes of waiting the man called out, "Hey lady doc! What's your name and rank?"
Rachel felt an eyebrow raise in amusement before she yelled back. "I'm Dr. Rachel Scott and my rank is Human."
A muffled laugh came from the man before the sudden loud squawking over his radio could be heard from their position. The man became fully visible as he straightened up from his laid out position on the balcony and walked over to the ladder that had been camouflaged on the side.
After quickly climbing down he tugged on the gas mask and walked over to the pair. Though he didn't raise his assault rifle at them he made it clear through his body language he wouldn't tolerate any funny business.
"That mask really wasn't necessary, we aren't sick." Tex repeated as the man drew closer.
"And like I said earlier, we've heard that before and paid dearly for it." The man motioned in front of him for them to start walking toward the barracks. As they rounded the corner Rachel hesitated slightly before continuing on to the two men dressed in full decontamination suits that waited for them in front of a one story building that had been hidden behind the barracks.
One of the men motioned for her arm as he drew out the test strip and needle before he pricked her. Beside her Tex waited patiently as he was tested as well.
Both men looked at the test results and then the one on the right nodded at the soldier next to them. "They're clear Corporal, CO is waiting inside."
Rachel exchanged a look with Tex as they walked into the building. And then both stopped walking in favor of staring around them in amazement. Soldiers hurried back and forth in a symphony of movement that was directed by a tall man standing in the middle of the chaos. Tall and broad shouldered with salt and pepper hair, he cut a formidable figure in military fatigues. Rachel swallowed against a sudden lump in her throat at the sight.
The man noticed them standing near the entrance and started to cut a swath toward them. He had made it nearly half the distance before a familiar voice rose out of general den of noise.
"Rachel?! Oh my God Rachel it is you!"
Before she could even turn in excitement a body slammed into her and spun her in joy. Tears of joy and relief streamed down her face as she twisted in the man's arm. "Jeremy! How?! Why are you here?"
Jeremy laughed through his tears as he lowered her back to the ground. "When the Red Flu had spread across the coastal cities and started to encroach inward the Atlanta Center was evacuated. I was moved to the base soon after. The hospital located here was installed with solar panels a few months before the outbreak and was deemed the best choice when we went to Level 5."
She regarded him warmly as she wiped the last few tears away from her face. Jeremy had been a fellow colleague with her at the CDC and was the one person who she had considered a friend. He was the only person who had not been deterred in trying to befriend her and had not allowed the long distance betwen the Atlanta and D.C. Center to stop him from nagging her into that friendship. She had often thought he was more trouble than he was worth but she adored him for it.
Rachel grabbed his hand as she gently asked him, "Steve?" His face crumpled slightly in anguish before he took a deep breath and shook his head. Her hand tightened on his as she dragged him back into her arms. She may not have liked him but Jeremy had loved his husband with a fierce devotion that had been more than returned on Steve's side. After a few minutes he drew back and wiped his face. By that time the man she suspected was in charge had reached them and was waiting patiently next to them as Tex shifted awkwardly and coughed. She glanced at Tex before she turned her attention to the man in front of her.
Jeremey tightened his hand in hers and drew her attention back to him. "Darling, not that it isn't fantastic to see you, but last I had heard you were boarding that boat. The one that was traveling to the Arctic to look for the primordial strain?" He had been one of the few people in their field who hadn't thought she was crazy for pursuing this lead.
She laughed lightly as her heart clenched a little. Buck up lass, it will get better, she thought to herself. "I'm pretty sure the crew of the Nathan James would disagree with that definition of their battle ship." She teased.
Tex snorted as he shifted on his feet again and glanced around. She had noticed the longer they had been here the tenser he had gotten. A flush of shame swept through her. Of course he was. After all, he was the entire reason why they had traveled this far north in the first place.
The man in front of them cleared his throat as his eyes narrowed on her. He glanced at Tex and said, "My Corporal said you were looking for someone? A girl?"
"Yes." She jumped in before he could. "A teenager named Lily Rogers and her mother."
"Her stepfather is Zach Blake and he was stationed here after a tour overseas." Tex jumped in before she could continue. He continued to look around quickly but couldn't catch a glimpse of any civilians in the mess of soldiers.
The man paused thoughtfully before saying slowly, "Torres, take him back to the civilians area. The woman's name rings a bell but the last few months have been chaotic to say the least. I'm sorry to say that Sergeant Blake died not too long after coming home from overseas. He was one of the first victims of the Flu."
Tex paled a few sheets before regaining a little color as he nodded tightly. Sarah had done a number on him before they finally split but she hadn't deserved this. The chances of his sweet Lily-pad still being alive dropped to almost zero. He glanced at Rachel and tightened his jaw.
"Tex, go. I'll be fine with these fine gentlemen and will find you once I've explained everything."
He gave her a slightly wild look to which she responded with a slight shake of her head. She would not let on the way they had left the destroyer. With no idea on how they would react she would give away nothing on the real reason they had left.
"Yes Gunny." Corporal Torres replied as he gestured for Tex to follow him. With one last look at her Tex followed him through the crowd.
"My God." Jeremy stared at her in disbelief after her explanation. Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Smith wasn't much better as they both goggled at her.
"Rachel, are you saying what I just think you said?"
"Ma'am are you sure you haven't been exposed to the Flu in recent days?" They both exclaimed in tandem.
She laughed weakly at them both. "Yes Jeremy, I just said that not only did I create the cure with Dr. Tophet, but I made it as contagious as the Flu. And no Gunnery Sergeant Smith, it does not matter at this point whether I have been exposed to it. I am now not only immune but a carrier of the cure to the virus."
Stunned silence was her only answer.
"Please just call me Gunny." Was the only reply from the other side of the table for a while.
The Gunny fianlly twisted in his chair and shot a narrow look at the virologist next to him. "Is that even possible?!"
"There is a precedent for it." Jeremy replied thoughtfuly as he leaned back in his chair. He shook his head in amazement as he balanced all his weight on the back two legs.
"Then prove it."
Jeremy lost his balance and fell to the floor with a crash. "Now wait just a damn moment!" He cried as he shot back up off the floor.
"Prove it?" Rachel asked softly.
"Yes ma'am. Prove it to me that what you claim is true." A heartbroken look flashed over his face before his features tightened. "My son and wife are currently in the sickward. Tony has had the Red Flu for only a few days but according to the Doc he doesn't have much time left. It's why you walked in on the chaos of soldiers when you did. We received a short wave radio transmission shortly before you arrived. An retired Army Ranger using old military access codes claims that his small town has the cure. That the Naval Destroyer the Nathan James had found the cure before they returned home."
"That's the reason for the odd look when you heard the name of the ship I had boarded." She breathed out.
"Yes ma'am. And for other reasons as well." He replied evenly. "We currently have 9 sick in the ward. There was 12 yesterday. None of them will be able to make the trip over. I doubt any will still be alive when the company of soldiers make it back. And there wasn't even a guarantee there was a cure in the first place or whether it was the crazed rantings of an old man."
"And just where did this 'old man' claim to be with the cure?" She was fairly sure who it was before he even confirmed it.
The Gunny eyed her before he replied, "He said he was located in Norfolk, VA."
Present
"...Rachel Scott!"
Rachel shook herself of the memories before she turned to Alyssa. "I'm sorry, what?"
Alyssa Smith eyed her but didn't say anything else for a few minutes. "We're going to reach the outskirts of San Fran soon." She finally said.
"Well. Let's hope we have better luck here yes?"
DDG-151 Nathan James
Ensign Will Mason stared at his console in pure disbelief. Even though he had been moved to Sonar almost two years ago, he liked to come to the CIC deck on his off duty hours and listen in to the transmissions. Hearing the sounds of slowly growing survival and hope helped keep him going, even in the darkest hours of the mission. With the permission of the XO, he shared the discoveries he could with the rest of the crew. Knowing that somewhere, somehow, people were surviving, even flourishing kept the hope alive they would find what they were seeking.
And here I found it by happence! He thought wildly.
"Foster! Get the CO and the XO, now!"
So when they first built this website, they mislabled a button. It was supposed to say "Click here to feed the author!". ::smiles inncocently::
