Chapter III
About 30 miles outside of Phoenix, Arizona
7:45 AM
"The sanctuary was attacked by two EZombs, a tiger and a wolf. The aircrafts that are supposed to pick up the other EZomb corpses are being deployed early and we are going to take a trip to California to visit the site of the original attack," Holiday was speaking at a hundred words a minute. She brushed her hair back behind her ears, and Six caught a look at her engagement ring. He felt his heart sink to his liver.
"Okay. Who is all going?" asked Calan.
"I am, and you and Six are my security detail. If Amelia goes, Rex joins. It's her decision," Holiday said. She turned to Amelia. "Well?"
"I signed up for this job to become a scientist for Providence. For better or for worse," she took a deep breath. "Let's go,"
Calan began to head out of the lab, and motioned for Rex and Six to follow him.
"Both of you will have to wear some sort of armor. I know Six has his own customized armor. Do you, Rex?" asked Calan.
"No," Rex admitted.
"You can borrow one of mine. We change and then meet the scientists in the hanger," Calan led the boys to a locker room. Calan threw a uniform to Rex, who immediately put it on. Six put on his own, and looked up to see Calan was already done and getting Rex situated with a gun. Calan picked up the barrel of a handgun and held it out to Six.
"I know it isn't your thing, but it's protocol," Calan shrugged, and Six took the gun.
The men headed to the hanger, and where surprised to find not only had the women beaten them there, but were already setting up in an aircraft.
"Why all the urgency?" asked Rex.
"We don't know if there were more infected animals, and Flyer is near Miami," Calan answered, not missing a beat.
They got settled, and Calan went to pilot the aircraft. Rex and Amelia sat towards the back. Amelia was showing him different formulas, and Holiday recognized one as being the molecular structure of cocaine. Holiday sat working on her laptop preparing the samples she was going to take, and Six sat opposite her, watching her.
"You're engaged," Six said simply. It wasn't a question, but a stoic yet sad statement.
"Yes, I am," Holiday agreed, multitasking. She didn't know when she had gotten over Agent Six, but she had. Her heart had told her she was done with him, and she was done.
"To whom, may I ask?" Six asked.
"Captain Calan," Holiday answered, becoming bored with the conversation.
"Calan?" Six was shocked, and loud. The two younger people looked at him. He lowered his voice. "Calan?"
"Yes, Six. Calan. I'm marrying Calan," Holiday looked at him.
"He's so-" Six started, but saw the ring, and he saw how much Holiday must love him. How much Calan must have loved her.
"He's so what, Six?" Holiday asked defensively.
"He's such a great guy. Congratulations. I'm sorry if I seemed rude. I hope you two are happy together," Six felt like he was being shot. "And I hope we can be friends,"
"I hope we can, too," Holiday gave him a hopeful look, and Six felt himself melt. If he made her happy, and Six could at least be a friend, Six would have to make that work.
"We're landing soon!" Calan called over the speakers.
Holiday finished what she was working on, and made sure her gun was loaded.
As the aircraft landed, Holiday opened a briefcase beside her and removed a few vials, as well some sort of intense-looking syringe gun. Rex's eyes got very wide, and Six's eyebrows raised behind the glasses.
"Ready, Amelia?" Holiday called out.
"Whenever you are," Amelia answered.
Calan put the craft down, and Holiday holstered her syringe gun and slid the vials into pouches on her belt.
As the door lifted, Rex jumped down first, then helped Amelia down. Six got down and offered his hand to Holiday, which she graciously declined.
Amelia went over to the dug up graves and begin filling vials with the soil. Rex assisted her, while Calan and Six kept lookout after a quick patrol.
"Does it smell like fuel to you?" asked Amelia, sniffing the air.
"It's probably just the aircraft," Six looked over at her.
Holiday noticed a trail of silvery-grey liquid. She bent down and dipped her finger in it, then rubbed two fingers together to test the consistency. She filled a vial with it, then followed the trail. At the end of it was a silver canister not unlike ones filled with tear gas. She knelt by it, and realized it reeked of gasoline. She knew what had happened.
"What is it, Dr. Holiday?" Amelia called out, noticing Holiday's behavior. "Were you wrong about your theory?"
"No," Holiday sighed. "I wasn't,"
"I'm not sure I understand," Six stated, confused.
"This wasn't a freak accident," Holiday took a deep breath. "Someone is trying to create a zombie apocalypse,"