***
Jethro pulled his head away from the cockpit, facescrunched in disgust. "Jeezus Bisby! Did you shit yourself?"
Bisby climbed down the last few rungs on his mech'sright leg, glaring up at Jethro. "Just fix the god damn targeter. Iwas shooting by feel, which totally wasted ammo and cut things waytoo fucking close."
Jethro heard the tone in Bisby's voice, knowing hisguess was right; Bisby did shit himself. It must have gotten prettybad out there.
"Everyone coming back today?" Jethro asked, ignoringthe stench and climbing fully into the mech's cockpit.
"No, Jethro. They aren't."
***
"Can you give me a ride out there?" DoctorThemopolous asked, approaching Mathew and Masters as they climbedinto the waiting ATV.
"Sure thing, Doc. We're just heading out to keepwatch on the body," Mathew responded.
The Doctor climbed into the back of the ATV as Mastersfired up the engines. Mathew double-checked the auto-carbines'clips, stowing his and Masters' in the rack between the frontseats.
Masters gunned the engine and the ATV burst from thehangar. Themopolous hung on, white knuckled as they sped over theearthen terrain, past Rachel's mech, heading out to the funeralpyre.
***
Bisby let the water run over him, washing the filth fromhis body.
"Biz?" Harlow's voice called from the shower roomdoor. "You in here?"
Bisby didn't respond.
"Capreze's looking for you," Harlow continued."He's pretty pissed you didn't report to him before cleaningup."
Bisby sighed. "Tell him I'll be right there."
Harlow stayed put. "Did he suffer?"
Bisby tensed. "Yes, Harlow, he suffered. But onlyuntil he blew his own brains out."
Bisby shut off the water, grabbed a towel and pushedpast Harlow.
Harlow slumped against the wall, slowly lowering to thefloor, fighting back the tears.
***
The ATV skidded to a halt, kicking up sand and dirt,coating the pyre and Stanislaw's body.
"Jeezus, Masters! Show some fucking respect!" Mathewyelled.
"Don't even start with me, Jespers," Mastersbarked, grabbing his carbine as he climbed from the ATV. He offeredThemopolous a hand.
"Thanks," she muttered, still shook up by the wildride from the base.
Themopolous started towards the corpse. Mathew grabbedhis carbine and followed, Masters right behind him.
"You worried Bisby was wrong? That Stan might comeback?" Mathew asked Themopolous.
When the three saw the body, they knew Stanislaw wasn'tcoming back.
***
"I am positive that you know debriefing protocol is tosee me before you shower, pilot," Capreze growled at Bisby as thepilot stood at attention. "The sooner you report, the less youforget."
"With all due respect sir, I'll never forget today,"Bisby responded through clenched teeth, his anger barely contained.
"I do not doubt that, pilot, but that is not your callto make. Understand me?"
Bisby ground his teeth together, trying to hold histongue.
"I asked if you understand-"
"I SHIT MY FUCKING SUIT SIR!" Bisby roared atCapreze.
Stunned, Capreze sat down in his chair.
***
Doctor Themopolous didn't bother opening her medicalkit, she knew the cause of death. Masters looked over her shoulder,grimacing at the sight.
"Did he do that?" Masters asked.
"It appears so. I'd say cause of death was aself-inflicted gunshot wound to the head."
"What the fuck happened out there?"
"I'm sure we'll all find out soon enough onceBisby makes his report to the Commander."
"Must have been some crazy shit to take outStanislaw … "
"Hey Guys," Mathew called a few feet from Mastersand Themopolous.
Masters turned, raising his rifle. "Whatcha gotMatty?"
"Incoming. Half mile out."
***
Bisby, seated in front of Capreze's desk, lifted hishead from his hands, eyes burning. "That's it."
Capreze, fingers steepled in front of him, sighed."That's not good."
Uncontrollably, Bisby laughed. A short, harsh bark of alaugh. "Ya think?"
"What I mean, Biz," Capreze stood. "Is that thebehavior the deader was exhibiting sounds frighteningly likeadaptation."
Bisbywatched as the Commander paused, then continued. "The zombies havesome reasoning ability, but no impulse control. Theydon't hesitate … "
"Sir?" Bisby asked, exhaustion fighting for hismind.
"Hmmm … ?" Capreze muttered, lost in thought.
"Stanislaw … ?"
Reality ripped Capreze from his musing.
***
"My God, how did they get here so fast?" Masterscalled out, placing a fresh clip in his carbine and taking aim. Hesqueezed the trigger, watching as several yards away three zombieheads exploded.
Mathew flung a grenade at the approaching undead, hopinghis timing was right. Within a second the grenade exploded sendingpieces of zombies high into the air. He looked behind him backtowards the base. He tapped his com.
"Hey Rache? Sure could use some help out here," hesaid, staring at the unmoving mech still positioned by the hangar.
"Hey Rache? You in there?"
***
"Rache? Rachel!" Mathew shouted over his com. Rachelpulled herself from her grief.
"What Matty?" she answered weakly.
"Um, are you watching this at all?!?" Mathewcontinued shouting. "We are about to get overrun here!"
Rachel shook her head violently, painfully. She checkedher scanners and gasped. "Oh, God! I'm so sorry! I'll be therein one minute!"
She set her mech to full power, not bothering with themotor drive and began to run the thing towards the pyre. "Hold on!"
"That's the idea! Hurry please!"
Rachel quickly shoved the idea of losing Mathew also outof her mind.
***
"She's on her way!" Mathew shouted to Masters andthe Doctor, barely heard over the concussions from the carbines.
"What can I do?" Themopolous yelled.
"Grab the ammo bag from the ATV!" Masters yelledback. "Pull out all the loaded clips!" He squeezed the trigger,more zombies fell. "Toss a fresh one to us when we call out! Fillthe empty ones we toss back to you!"
Themopolous dashed to the ATV and grabbed the bag,nearly pulling her shoulder out of socket from the weight. Shedragged the bag closer to Mathew and Masters.
"Okay, I'm ready!" she called.
***
Rachel's mech ran past the funeral pyre, not botheringto wait for Masters and Mathew to stop firing. Bullets ricocheted offthe battle machine's frame.
Mathew, Masters and Themoplolous watched in awe asRachel ran her mech into the middle of the dozens of zombies stillleft. Furious, she lifted her metal fists and smashed down, crushingthe undead beneath her. She did the same with her massive feet,mashing the creatures into pulp.
Within seconds, all was still.
Rachel's chest heaved, then seized. Far away, Mathew'svoice called to her, but it all went black before she could respond.
***
"Commander?" Harlow called over the com.
"Yes, Harlow?" Capreze responded, walking with Bisbyfrom his office. "Whatcha got?"
"Looks like company may have followed Bisby."
Capreze glanced at Biz and narrowed his eyes. "Iwasn't aware of that. How far out?"
"At the funeral pyre. Sounds like Rachel came in andsaved my boy's ass, but … "
Capreze stopped, Bisby did also, waiting, not privy tothe conversation.
"But what?"
Harlow hesitated, "Well, sir, it sounds like Rachelmay have passed out. Want me out there?"
"I want everyone out there. Get the transport readyand get the staff loaded up."
***
Mathew lowered Rachel's unconscious form to theground, having just retrieved her from the cockpit. "Holy crap!"he gasped, slumping to the ground from the exertion.
Checking Rachel's pulse while pulling back an eyelid,Doctor Themopolous turned to Masters. "Your turn to help. Hand memy bag."
Masters grabbed the med bag next to the pyre and handedit to Themopolous. She shook her head. "No, I need you to pull outthe injector and grab the small red vial in the side pouch."
Masters did as he was told, Mathew rolled onto his sideto get a better view.
***
Jay manned the transport controls, powered up thevehicle and checked the instrument panels. "Ready to go Commander."
Capreze did a quick head count. "Alright, Jay, we'reall loaded. Take us out there."
"Gotcha."
Capreze clicked his com. "Mathew?"
"Yes, sir?" Mathew responded, still sounding winded.
"We are on our way. How's my girl?"
There was a slight pause. "She's coming around now,sir. Doc says she'll be fine."
"Good to hear. Site secure?"
"Yes sir. Your girl took care of that."
"Excellent. We'll be there in just a moment."
Capreze severed the communication as the transport leftthe hangar.
***
Mathew helped Rachel to her feet. She wobbled a little,but stayed upright.
"Easy now," Mathew said. Rachel smiled at himweakly, gently removing his hand from her arm.
"I'm fine. I got this," Rachel responded.