Zombie Theorem (Book 4): Aces Mortis Read online

Pauline eyed him, then looked to Chun and smiled. She launched herself into the air and landed on Butch’s stomach, straddling him with her legs. He sat up quickly and fought to take in a deep breath, eyes bulging, as they tried to escape their bonds in his eye sockets. “Holy hell woman, warn me next time.”

  “Why would I do that, mister scary tier one big balled warrior man?”

  Butch didn’t waste his new lungful of air and instead, wrapped his arms around Pauline and rolled over quickly, pinning her under his massive body. He planted a kiss on her lips. As the rest of the team around him mocked throwing up over the display. When Pauline could come up for air she stated. “You guys are just jealous, secretly you wish you could do this with this manly man of muscle,” she stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry at the men as they watched the scene of affection on full display.

  “Sorry Petty Officer First Class Macleod. But I have actually been spooned naked by your big muscular man,” shot out Lupo.

  Pauline stopped and looked up to Butch to see if this was the truth. Before Butch could respond, Chun jumped in. “Hell, I have showered with that guy at least forty times a year for like the last fifteen years. Oh, hey there was that one mission in the big sand, where we had to go through deacon together. Nuclear bio labs suck!”

  Butch dropped his head in defeat, resting it on Pauline’s heaving chest. “Oh these guys have way more stories than that,” he said and raised his head, kissing Pauline in the hollow of her throat. “Lupo forgot to mention he was dying of hypothermia, on a bitterly freezing mountain top. And everyone else had already partnered up. So, we dug a nice little snow cave, stripped, and cuddled for body warmth in a sleeping bag. I saved his ass that day. And yes, there is no modesty in a team as close as ours. Hell, I removed shrapnel from Chun’s crotch and ass just last year.”

  Pauline raised her head and placed a big kiss on Butch’s lips, shutting him up. When they broke the kiss, she found the rest of the team busy doing other things. Dio had gotten to his feet and was busy sprinting up and down the empty deck, being chased by Lupo. Chun was striding to his precious new toy, the Dragonhawk. Rascal had passed out and was snoring softly nearby. She enjoyed the moment for what it was. She had no idea how much time she had left with Butch, but was damned motivated to wring every moment and emotion out of him that she could. The big man did what he always did, lived life to the fullest. He hadn’t been this happy since he lost his wife of only four years to cervical cancer.

  Butch shook the thought from his mind and gazed up into Pauline’s eyes. “Wanna go for a walk, Petty Officer Macleod?”

  She raised an eyebrow and bit her bottom lip playfully. “Master Chief, you must have been hit in the head. I am a Petty Officer First Class, not just a Petty Officer. But yes, I would be happy to take a stroll with you,” she wiggled out from underneath his body and stood up, gathered her blouse and pulled it back on.

  “Yes, Petty Officer First Class,” Butch shook his head in mock exasperation. He took her small dainty hand in his massive paw, pretty much enveloping it. She threw a little wave at the team as she left with Butch.

  “Glad someone is having a good time,” Dio remarked, watching Pauline’s hips sway as she walked away.

  “If you really need some attention that much. I am sure I can figure something out that will keep you gasping for air,” Chun offered.

  “No, I do not feel like rigorous PT Lt, but thank you, sir!”

  “Then stop your bitching and enjoy your down time.”

  “Aye, aye, sir!” shouted Dio, Lupo, and Rascal, as one. Bringing a wry smile from Chun.

  Butch escorted Pauline to a set of stairs off the deck and down to an open passageway, away from prying eyes. Butch sat down on the deck, feet hanging over the side, his bearded chin resting on the railing. Pauline slowly made her way to his side and latched onto his swollen biceps. They sat quietly, watching the waves below ebb, dolphins appearing and jumping through the water only to disappear again. She tore her eyes off the serene scene and turned her head to look up at the statue like man. She took his head in her hands and tilted it down. She was taken back at the tears that had taken residence there, threatening to fall. She looked deep into his soul and found a mixture of pain, fear, and joyfulness. They fought to be the emotion to take him over.

  “What’s wrong, Butch?” she surprised him by using his name. She had always deferred to his rank. Her hand gently rubbed his bearded face.

  It took him a couple of minutes to speak, as he had to swallow the lump building in his throat. “I haven’t felt this way about anyone since my ex-wife.”

  “Oh?”

  Butch tried to smile, but he was having such a problem fighting through his emotions. This was something so alien to him, he was a leader of warriors. He killed people for a living, he had destroyed entire governments. Yet this little woman sitting next to him scared him to his core. No, it wasn’t her that scared him, it was the feelings he felt for her. “Her name was Karina Halt, fell in love with her junior year. We were the perfect high school couple, I played football and she was the head cheerleader. When we graduated, she joined the local college and was working on her degree in Journalism. Wow, she could write, her words could make you see the stories she wrote as they unfolded. Her grasp on the world was one many could ever hope to attain. I decided not to take a football scholarship to a pretty, prestigious college, which pissed my parents off to no end. I ended up working for her dad on his farm. We were married by the time we turned nineteen, her dad moved us into a little house on the farm and we settled into a life of bliss,” tears broke free of his eyes and flowed down his cheeks and getting caught in the tangles of his beard. “One day I came home from working in the fields to find my new wife on the floor of our living room, completely falling apart sobbing. I looked her over looking for a wound or obvious injury, turns out what she had I could not see. She had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. I lost her two painful long years later. She had been a trooper and outlived all the doctor’s predictions. The day she died I enlisted in the Navy. Sailed through boot camp, signed up for BUDS, and three months later I walked through the front gates for training and never looked back. I lived for the mission, the next mission, and my men. These idiots, including Hootie, are my family. I couldn’t save Karina, but I promised to God and all his Angels I would do everything inhumanly possible to take care of my new family.”

  Pauline smiled up at the Seal, and wiped the tears falling from his eyes. “Butch, she must’ve been one special woman to deserve such a man as you,” she slid a hand behind his neck and pulled him down and closer to her. Their lips met and she held him there, the kisses turning more and more passionate. He stood in one motion, lifting her into his arms, and made his way inside a hatch. He carried her to a pile of tarps and there they made love exploring each other’s bodies. Crying out in pleasure and shared emotions. They lay there, sweating bodies entwined, her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat as it thumped. Then the magic was broken, the overhead speaker system came alive and a voice called out his and Pauline’s names, ordering them to the bridge.

  “I guess our time is over,” she sighed.

  “Duty calls,” he kissed the top of her head and untangled their limbs. “Promise we will continue this.”

  “Oh? You think I am easy enough for you take me whenever you want me, Master Chief?”

  He stammered and sputtered for a moment until she rolled on top of him, straddling his hips and looking down on him. She kissed the tip of his nose and stood, collected her clothing and begin to dress as he lay there still trying to figure out her words and their meanings. She saw this and laughed heartily at his discomfort. “I was kidding, you giant dork!”

  He roared out in relief and joyous laughter, then became deadly serious. “Wait does this mean are we going steady now?”

  Pauline stopped buttoning her blouse and tilted her head, staring at Butch as he slid into his pants. “Who says steady anymore?” Butch blushed and tried
turning around to find his boots and put the embarrassing conversation behind him. She stepped over a box they had knocked down during their intense lovemaking, and grabbed his waist, trying to turn him around. “You big lug, stop being so sensitive. But we can’t be going steady, cause you never asked me.”

  He stopped what he was doing and spun around, sweeping her into his arms. “You are so right,” she wrapped her legs around him as he cupped a hand under her, holding her in place. The other hand behind her neck. “Petty Officer First Class Pauline Macleod, would you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?”

  Her eyes went wide and she couldn’t help but giggle like a school girl. “Let me think,” she swished her lips back and forth and scratched her chin, pretending to be in deep thought. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “Hope that was answer enough?”

  “Good enough for me,” he put her back on her feet and hurriedly got dressed. The intercom system came on again, calling their names. “I think they are serious.”

  They jogged through the cavernous hangar and up ladders as they navigated their way to the bridge. They ran into Hootie as he made his way from the galley. He stopped when he came to them, a look of pain on his face. Pauline grabbed his shoulders and pulled him in close, kissing him on the cheek. “All is forgiven, you numb nut idiot!”

  Butch slapped his back and barked out a laugh. “I will let you live this time, come on,” they jogged on together through the maze-like passageways.

  As they entered the bridge, the intercom had snapped on again. Langham reached over the Petty Officer who was about to speak into a microphone and switched off the intercom. “Petty Officer Copeland, our little ducks have found their way home. Please get General Richards on the line and patch him into my ready room,” she turned to walk away motioning for Hootie, Pauline, and Butch to follow.

  “Aye, aye, ma’am.”

  They entered the ready room and found Nunzio and Teams one and five present. Sitting in the front row like the studious warriors they were sat Seal Team Six. His men, his warriors, his brothers. He pulled Pauline with him as he made his way to a lone seat. Langham came over and addressed Pauline.

  “Petty Office Macleod. I am told you are the creator and brains of that scary looking Dragonhawk sitting on my deck. Is this true?”

  Pauline pulled away from Butch and snapped to attention. “Yes ma’am, been working on that thing for a while.”

  “If I could provide you with some other mechanics and a gunner’s mate, do you think you could modify more Seahawks into this Dragonhawk?”

  “I prefer to work with the Firehawks, but I can turn the Seahawks into a Dragonhawk if given enough time, supplies, and access to specified equipment.”

  “Give a list to Copeland and she will introduce you to your new team. I will see to it you get what you need and have all access,” Langham answered.

  “Aye, aye, ma’am,” she saluted.

  “Let’s drop the salute thing, Petty Officer. Get to work.”

  Pauline turned quickly, brushing a hand across Butch’s shoulder and moved quickly out of the room to follow her orders. She made her way to Copeland, who handed her a clipboard and sheet of paper. Four women came up and stood around. Copeland stood from her station, smoothed her blouse and made introductions.

  “Petty Officer Macleod, this is the new ‘Wonder Woman’ team,” she pointed to a small redhead first. “This is Petty Office Second Class Gunners Mate Kristen Beltz, she has some experience in weapons engineering. She also has access to all the good stuff you’re going to need. Every team needs a ‘go for’ this and that. Yours is Seaman Claire Brown, she was training to be a UFC fighter when she joined the Navy. She is broad shouldered and knows every inch of this ship, utilize her in some fashion. The six-foot, three-inch blonde standing in the corner is Petty Officer Third Class Paula Parkins. She is a rotary craft specialist, not a helicopter engine exists that she hasn’t tweaked on. And last is your pilot, Ensign Candace Chapman. Now I want to make this very clear, and remember it is coming from Commander Langham herself,” she turned to address the assembled women in front of her. “Petty Officer Macleod, is the leader of this team. She will be treated as such, and rank has no privileges. I will be your coordinator, if there is something you need that we can’t get on the ship I will find it and procure it. Good luck and get to work ladies, the Commander needs those assets ASAP.”

  Pauline examined her new all woman team and sighed. She preferred working with men, less drama and less divas. Not to say she hadn’t seen her share of diva like men, but the rest of the men on the team usually took care of that little problem for her. She gave them her best ‘we got this’ smile. “Okay, lets head down to the hangar and get started,” she turned to her pilot, Chapman. “We need an inventory of aircraft currently on board and designations, get a jump on that,” she turned to the tall blonde. “Parkins, right?” the blonde nodded her head in affirmative. “This is going to become monotonous, but to start this project we need inventory. I need to know what spares we have, mechanical and structural,” she racked her head to remember the name of the little red head, who figured out what she was doing.

  “The name is Beltz ma’am. But call me by my nickname Gizmo,” she had a bright, disarming smile like a cartoon character. But it was the intelligent shine in her eyes that excited Pauline. Somehow, she knew this woman was going to become her best friend.

  “Gizmo it is, and I will be asking later the back story to the nickname. I need to know what weapon systems we have lying around that we can massage into my Dragonhawk,” Pauline directed her.

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  The broad-shouldered fighter was left standing on her own. “What about me, Petty Officer?”

  “Pauline took her in one more time. Wow was she fit, her biceps and shoulders looked like they should reside on some NFL linebacker. But with her cute pixie brown hair cut and turned up nose, Pauline knew men would be throwing themselves at her. “You got the best job, Seaman Claire Brown. You are my personal aide,” Pauline again found her eyes roving over Brown’s form. “And with your special skill set, you get to be my bodyguard and heavy lifter.”

  Brown licked her lips and smiled back at Pauline. “There is not a man, woman, or dead ass creature who can take me on. I got your six, ma’am.”

  Pauline went through a fit of giggles. “I am sure a couple of those Seals on board could give you a run for your money, Seaman.”

  “You don’t understand, ma’am. Those Seals are not men, they are Gods. I would get my ass handed to me every day if I attempted to mess with them. But anyone else I can take care of.”

  Pauline patted her on the shoulder and turned to address her new team. “One more thing, I do not deal with bitching and fighting very well. I am a hard tasker and expect shit done right the first time every time. I do not bend when it comes to my projects,” she looked each woman in the eyes, as she did they nodded to her and her proclamation. “So why the fuck are you still standing around staring at me? Move it!” The women laughed as one and ran from the room in a hurry to make their new boss happy.

  In the briefing room, the men listened raptly at the reports transmitted from this General Richards. In most cases, they were given memos with names and detailed action reports. The first thing Chun noticed was the same man’s name over and over again. He raised his hand, and waited for Langham to call on him.

  Langham stopped and stared at Chun’s hand high in the air alone. “Lieutenant Chun, I take it you have a question?”

  He brought his hand down and continued to stare at the paperwork in his lap. “Who is this Dan Welko guy? He keeps showing up in these reports.”

  “According, to the General, he is a civilian traveling with a San Francisco SWAT group, heading to northern Oregon. He is the one who discovered the next shit storm,” she looked over the astonished faces.

  “Wait you are telling me some civie traveling with a SWAT team has discovered the start to this whole
crap show of living eating dead things?” The voice came from the back of the room. He was a bald guy with no facial hair and pretty much looked like he had been a Seal for less than a month. He looked bright just not professional like the rest of the guys in the room. But he did have a point with his question.

  Chun turned and examined Langham, she fidgeted for a bit and then leaned against the podium in front of her. “Here is the no shitter, boys. It seems this Dan Welko guy uncovered a plot hatched by a shadowy world group, going by the name the Culling Initiative. They are dedicated to the eradication of a large swath of human life, not just here but all four corners of our little blue marble we call home. They are using their little lap dogs, the Ridder Group, to first release some kind of virus. This virus is responsible for all these,” she pursed her lips and swished them back and forth as she thought. “For a lack of a better word, Zombies. Secondly, they are to block aide from all federal and civilian sources and attempts at stopping the virus. They have even co-opted entire military divisions, and bases, and those that won’t listen to the Secretary’s orders are being hit and hit hard. The General has asked us to be quiet and act like a hole in the water. We are not to communicate with anyone, just sit out here and wait to be called on.”

  Nunzio spoke up. “Okay, I can go with all that. But what the hell are we supposed to be doing?”

  “Glad you asked,” Langham nodded to someone in the back. The lights went out and a projector came to life. The wall behind Langham came to life with a map of Los Angeles and central California. “We are going to chopper you guys out piecemeal to this location here,” she used a laser point to project a red dot over a town called Lancaster, north of Los Angeles and another town named Palmdale. “From there, you will move northeast and help out an army convoy that has been in a running battle with Ridder forces for two days. They are not going to last long if we don’t do something.”

  Butch stared at the map, turning his massive bearded face sideways. He was figuring things out and trying to come up with an idea. He stood up and strode over to the map. “First things first, what the hell are three teams of Seals going to do against motorized vehicles? I guess we could shake our dicks at them. Our personal kits don’t include the kind of weapons we need to take on that kind of battle.”