Episode Four
The Submarines
"U.S. Submarine Zero Four, this is civilian Maria Brown, respond."
"This is U.S. Submarine Zero Four, copy, Maria. What's your status?"
"We've reached the bottom floor of the boat and we're going to board an old submarine in an attempt to escape. If you bomb the ship, could you blow a hole in the very bottom so we can escape?"
"Roger, sounds like a solid plan. Be sure to do a decontamination of the submarine before you do."
"We will. How long do we have left?"
"We'll give you ten minutes to get aboard the submarine and decontaminate it. Is that enough?"
"That'll be fine. Thanks guys."
"No problem. Good luck." She clicked off the radio and grabbed more supplies, throwing them in her backpack.
"We all ready?" They nodded.
"Let's do this," Jonathon said, sliding the clip into his assault rifle. They nodded. Outside the Safe Room, already a collection of undead had gathered, smelling them and crying out for the meal within. The others nodded. They were all ready. Victor counted to three on his fingers, then kicked the bar up and the door open, scattering the zombies. The four ran in, spraying them with bullets, Jonathon making sure not to use his bad arm too much. They sprinted through, covering their tracks with bullets as Victor and Jon cleaved through the defensive easily with their shotgun/automatic rifle combo.
Kicking open the door to the exhibit, Victor cursed. They hadn't realized how many people had been down here during the initial infection, and thus, how many zombies. The room was FULL of them, almost to the point of being unable to move. They surged toward the door that had just been opened and the two opened fire on the huge wave of undead. Their cursing was drowned out by gunfire and the cries of the hundreds of infected that were falling at their feet.
"Make sure we can still get through! Don't let them pile up too badly!" Victor screamed. Jonathon nodded in agreement as he continued to drill through the zombies. Eventually, as they cut a huge wedge through the undead horde, they saw their object of attention: the submarine. They were finally here.
"There it is!" Jonathon screamed, pointing it out to the others. Their eyes sparkled and they nodded, blood pumping faster and their grip tightening, knowing freedom was so close. Rushing ahead, they put their backs against the metal of the submarine. Guarding it with their lives, Jonathon slowly pried open the hatch.
"Damnit this is heavy!" he cried. He heaved the latch around until the hatch opened and everyone got inside, Victor and Jonathon closing it tightly, locking it.
"Shit!" Maria cried. Everyone looked to her. "We can't drive the damn thing!" Everyone paused for a moment and Leon stepped forward.
"I played a lot of simulators on planes and stuff... and submarines." He sat in the pilot's seat. "Alright, this is the propeller controls... guiding... navigation... oxygen meter... Yeah, I think we're set. Now all we need is-" He was cut off by a boom outside. The ship and submarine rocked violently, and they heard the zombies scream outside. The window showed a bright flash before water started pouring into the room.
"Here we go," Jonathon said, pure adrenaline pumping through his veins. "We're going to make it!" Suddenly, the hatch screeched. Something was attempting to get in. Jonathon kicked it open, finding himself face to face with a Hunter. It screamed and attacked, lunging at him and swiping with its claws. He pushed it away, aiming for it's head with his rifle, filling it with lead.
"Close the damn hatch!" Victor screamed. He did, just in time, as a small trickle of water entered the submarine, the hatch locking and pressurizing so that no more would enter.
"This thing is old, but it should hold out pretty well. It runs on electricity, and they powered it up so it'd look like it worked. We got about a half of a tank. Should be enough to get us to dry land, or at least to the surface so we can call for help. This radio is solar powered, but runs on our reserves if it can find sunlight. We're set!" They sighed in relief, sitting down on the cold metal floor. Leon piloted the submarine up and out of the hole.
"U.S. Submarine Zero Four, this is civilian Maria Brown, do you copy?"
"Yeah, did your party make it?"
"We're all here. Our sub is coming out now."
"Good job! You guys must be real survivalists to make it out of there alive!"
"You could say that," she smiled.
"The nearest port is about 50 miles north of your position, think you can make it?" She looked to Leon, who took the radio.
"Yo, this is Captain Leon. We got enough electricity to make us about 50 miles north, but that's about all we have energy for."
"Alright. We'll help you if you don't make it. We'll make sure you get to land. Also, one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"The mainland... the infection's already spread there." We were stunned.
"Repeat, Zero Four?"
"I said the mainland's been infected already. Just like the boat." Leon swore and slammed his fist onto the dash.
"Alright, thanks for the info, Zero Four. We're headed in anyway."
"Alright." He paused. "Good luck, civilians. You'll need it."
In that instance where all hope seemed lost, they knew he was absolutely right. They would need as much luck as they could get.
