《Dead Man Division: The Helix Journals》


 1.1: Chow Time

    August 12th, 2045


    Day 3 with the Dead Man Division


    August 12th? Is it Wednesday? Every day feels the same these days. I know we are passing through what used to be Illinois. Perhaps we are close to Chicago. What¡¯s left of Chicago. It¡¯s hard to believe that it has been a full year since the fall of the United States to the Helix. Fifteen years we fought those damn abominations. People still wonder where they came from. They appeared from nowhere and don¡¯t seem to have too much of a motive but to eradicate us.


    I¡¯ve decided to start this journal today. As a scientist I feel obligated to record everything I witness for the next few months. Not just to record my findings, but record my experience with this squad. The 10th Mountain Division, these days they are lovingly coined ¡°The Dead Man Division¡±.


    A horrible nickname, I know.


    I have no choice but to blame my assignment. I am Doctor Miranda Chavez, a Xenobiologist. That¡¯s a fancy word to say that I study aliens, the Helix more specifically. We haven¡¯t learned much from fighting them for the last decade and a half. We know they act more like parasites. They attach themselves to their hosts to transform their very DNA. Mutating them into a mindless creature that explodes when killed, spreading spores to their next victims. Frightening.


    So now I¡¯ve been embedded into this unit to bring them to No Man¡¯s Land in order to study the Helix.


    ¡°Hey Doctor Fraggle! Are you awake over there?¡±


    Miranda rolled her eyes. She ignored the question and continued to concentrate on her journal.


    ¡°Doctor Fraggle.¡± As in ¡®Fragglerock¡¯. Some 1980¡¯s kids show. Lo and behold nearly a hundred years later and the 80¡¯s still plague our pop culture. What¡¯s left of our culture anyways.


    ¡°Hey Doc! Did you want some breakfast?¡±


    Private Collins. As annoying as he could be, he was one of the sweeter soldiers in our little skeleton crew.


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    ¡°I''m fine, Collins. I still have a granola bar in my pocket,¡± said Miranda. She patted her breast pocket. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t think I can muster the fortitude to stomach another morning of Veggie Omelet MRE¡¯s.¡±


    Collins shrugged his shoulders and teared open the packet.


    The squad of soldiers leaned against their scouting vehicles; modified two person cars with telescoping, tilting wheels. Perfect for making their way through the wreckage of past battles.


    ¡°Eat up, we move out in thirty!¡± ordered Sergeant Marks. The broad man¡¯s stern voice rattled Miranda¡¯s body, as if she was the sole target for the command.


    Sergeant Marks has always had a thing for scientists. I don¡¯t mean an attraction, but an enmity for us. I¡¯m no psychologist, but I think he looks down upon us because we bring nothing to his table. Whereas I have my expertise in his enemy, the very thought that I don¡¯t carry a machismo weapon and ¡®Rambo¡¯ swagger, makes him cringe in his boots. It seems Collins has already rubbed off on me.


    ¡°If I could get my hands on a couple eggs, some fresh vegetables, and maybe a dash of salt, then I could make a real veggie omelet to write home about,¡± Flores grumbled. He popped open the tiny Tabasco sauce that came with the MRE packet and slathered his tasteless meal with it.


    Private Flores used to be a cook before volunteering for this MOS. Lord knows why. The others respect him for his decision to a degree, but I think maybe he was better off being a ¡°POG cook¡±. I don¡¯t understand the animosity that my boys have against those that did not choose the combat profession. Then again, there are many things I don¡¯t understand about military life.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare bring those Charms into our Smoke!¡± shouted Ito as she ripped a package of candy away from Flores.


    Like how bringing candy into a vehicle is bad luck¡­


    ¡°Settle down Corporal,¡± scolded Marks, between mouthfuls of granola. He washed down the snack with a gulp of bitter coffee before checking his watch. ¡°Break¡¯s over. Get them situated, Ito.¡±


    Ito nodded. She slapped her hands together and ushered the privates into their Scouting Mechanized Carriers. ¡°Into your Smokes, boys and girls! Let¡¯s get this show on the road!¡±


    ¡°Transform and roll out!¡± joked Collins. He quickly ducked into his seat as Ito glared at him.


    Nobody gets Collin¡¯s humor, especially not Ito. She is one of those soldiers hoping to make an officer by taking the toughest, most dangerous assignments. I have to admire her tenacity, she¡¯s got guts.


    Miranda strapped her seat belt harness over her shoulder. Settling in comfortably behind Collins. The SMC¡¯s were only large enough for two seats. A driver and a passenger. Miranda had the pleasure of riding along with Collins. Ito with Flores, and Marks with Spears.


    Oh, Spears. Do you know those war movies where there is a poetic soldier spouting profound observations about war? That¡¯s Private Spears. He keeps to himself most of the time. Always choosing to sit alone in his solace and silence. The others call him Socrates. I don¡¯t think they can appreciate the beauty that Spears brings to their world. Then again, is there much room for beauty?

 1.2: Fragglerock

    The Dead Man Division made their way down a long stretch of highway that cut between the charred remains of roaming farms. A low, grumbling storm churned in the distance. The SMCs¡¯ extending wheels made short work of the burned cars as they crawled like spiders over the obstacles.


    Miranda gripped the back of Collin¡¯s seat as the SMC rattled around. Her harness held her tightly, but the jostling still made her nauseous. Collin¡¯s blaring music of the Cure and Duran Duran didn¡¯t make the ride any more comforting.


    ¡°Can we turn down the music, Collins?¡± Miranda asked as politely as possible, but she really wanted to take a baseball bat to the stereo.


    ¡°Yeah, sure, Doc. I can¡¯t really hear the coms anyways,¡± said Collins half heartedly.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Miranda sighed with relief. She leaned back into her seat as the SMC hit smoother pavement.¡±What are they talking about?¡±


    Collins turned up the radio. ¡°A distress call.¡±


    ¡°--Received word that a convoy was ambushed by Helix. Keep your eyes sharp and your weapons hot. There might be some still around.¡± Marks¡¯ static voice came through.


    I¡¯ve actually never seen a Helix alive. I know what you¡¯re thinking. ¡®You study the damn things, how could you have never seen one?¡¯ Well I¡¯ve only studied corpses. However, I''ve learned a lot about their anatomy. They are built much like insects. Thoraxes, translucent wings, and exo-skeletons. They are thirty-two inches long and have an average wingspan of five feet. When they attempt to take over your body, they will attach themselves to the host¡¯s back and a needle-like proboscis will draw from the Helix¡¯s mouth. then puncture the neck. From there they will alter the host¡¯s DNA with a bacteria that resides in a venom that they produce.


    The entire process is all too horrifying.


    Our soldiers now wear a flexible Kevlar collar to protect them. They have me wearing the same. It itches, but will save my life someday.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of storms, for I¡¯m learning how to sail my ship. Lousia May Alcott,¡± Spears responded. The radio went silent.


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    Always the poet.


    ¡°Socratess, you joined the Army, not the Navy,¡± laughed Ito.


    ¡°Clear the coms, the convoy is in sight,¡± commanded Marks. ¡°Circle the Smokes around the trucks and search for survivors.¡±


    Miranda watched as the soldiers deployed from their vehicles, climbing onto trucks and checking the vitals of the drivers. She couldn¡¯t help but notice the armor was blackened and the windshields had been melted.


    The Helix¡¯s primary offense is napalm-like liquid that spews from their mandibles. It burns all it touches, sticking to our armored vehicles and eating away quickly at exposed skin.


    ¡°Chavez!¡± called out Marks.


    Miranda jumped from the SMC and cautiously approached the gathering of Ito and Marks kneeling beside a twitching Helix.


    ¡°It¡¯s alive and still attached to its host. Fascinating!¡± said Miranda, now running to the insect. She pulled out her camera and snapped pictures from various angles. She paused to inspect holes that peppered its back. ¡°Several bullet wounds have rendered it paralyzed, but see how the host struggles to move?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s disgusting that you get off from this, Fragglerock,¡± sneered Ito.


    Miranda ignored the jab and continued to study the Helix¡¯s victim. It moaned as it dragged towards her, his eyes glowed ultraviolet. ¡°His legs don¡¯t seem to be functioning. It¡¯s as if the Helix¡¯s afflictions have affected its host as well.¡±


    ¡°Host? Don¡¯t forget that''s a soldier! One of us!¡± snarled Ito.


    Miranda turned, ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°Stand down, Corporal. Chavez is treating this mess objectively. She¡¯s not as cold as you think.,¡± commanded Marks.


    ¡°No survivors, Sergeant,¡± reported Flores as he walked up to Marks. He pulled Miranda back as she attempted to touch the buzzing alien. ¡°Careful, Doc, that Frag might blow up in your face.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right, Chavez. Back to your Smoke.¡± Marks placed his hand on Ito¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Round the boys, let¡¯s get moving.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s suffering¡­¡± Ito said quietly. She stepped closer to the mindless soldier and lifted her weapon against her shoulder.


    ¡°Aim for the Helix, Yume.¡± Miranda pointed to the dragonfly-like creature.¡± Killing the ho-the soldier will release the spores. We¡¯d all join his fate then.¡±


    Miranda climbed into her SMC, flinching at the sound of gunfire behind her.


    Collins revved the engine and pulled out a CD from a gray case. ¡°Cyndi Lauper to lighten the mood?¡±


    Miranda watched as Ito ripped the dog tag from the now dead soldier. She listened as Spears came over the radio.


    ¡°Death remains about the one certain fact in the lives of each one of us, and there will be suffering, sorrow, and sadness next week as there was last week. Basil Hume.¡±


    She patted Collins on the shoulder, ¡°I could use a bit of Lauper right now.¡±

 1.3: Fubar

    The gentle pattering of rain swept across the SMC¡¯s as they drove into an abandoned gas station. With their fuel low and their nerves high; they still had a little over a hundred miles left to go before reaching No Man¡¯s Land.


    The three vehicles pulled up to their respective pumps. Spears, Flores, and Collins climbed out and formed a crescent formation in front of the gas station. Marks and Ito investigated the shop, well aware danger could await them inside.


    Miranda unbuckled her harness with hopes to have a chance to stretch her legs. They had been driving for the last three hours since the incident at the convoy with only short breaks to relieve themselves or stop for a bite to eat. This chance seemed as good as any to walk around.


    ¡°Collins, is anything out there?¡± Miranda approached the private. She looked down his line of sight back down the road. ¡°Do you think the Helix would be this far out of the way from civilization?¡±


    Collins adjusted his flack vest to let the cool air into his chest. ¡°I doubt there¡¯s much of anything here, Doc.¡±


    ¡°Corn,¡± Spears said quietly, ¡°This land used to bear corn. Now it only bears ash and death.¡± His eyes drifted lazily into the withered fields.


    ¡°Did you used to be a farmer, Spears?¡± asked Miranda.


    It never occurred to me that these soldiers had lives before joining the military. That not everyone was sucked into the void of war. Fifteen years is a long time to live in destruction and turmoil. It¡¯s hard to remember what life was like sixteen years ago.


    Spears paused. Only the sounds of rain hitting the roof of the gas station broke through the silence.


    ¡°I was just a kid before the war began. Barely even ten.¡± Flores mused, adding to the conversation. ¡°My parents owned a diner; not too far from here. Maybe an hour to the south¡­I-I miss them.¡±


    Miranda nodded to the familiar feeling of losing her loved ones in the war.


    Flores continued, ¡°I never wanted to end up like them. Working myself to the bone cooking burgers.¡± He shook his head and chuckled. ¡°Ended up becoming a cook anyways. Now I¡¯m here. Fuck the Helix!¡± he cursed. ¡°I could have done so much more with my life!¡±


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    ¡°Tramps like us, baby we were born to run.¡± Collins said, never turning away from the road.


    ¡°Shaw?¡± asked Spears.


    ¡°Springsteen.¡±


    A gunshot cracked through the air. Marks and Ito hustled briskly from the shop, their mouths covered by black gas masks.


    ¡°Collins, Flores, get those Smokes fueled up,¡± Marks barked, ¡°Ito and Socrates, you¡¯re on point! Chavez, stick with me.¡±


    ¡°Masks on, boys! That gun blast is going to attract some unwanted company,¡± Ito¡¯s voice rang out, a mixture of anxiousness and joy plastered on her face.


    Times like these, I wish I was a pencil pusher. I would be in a nice, cozy office. Hundreds of miles away from the Helix, soldiers, and the damn war. The only conflict would be my cat attacking my feet. How did Flores put it? Fuck the Helix.


    Spears and Ito backed up as moaning wails erupted from the field. Zombie-like farm-hands burst from the grass clawing and gnashing their yellow teeth.


    A hail of bullets fired into the crowd of hosts, with each finding their mark, splattered blood and guts. Releasing a swarm of dust into the air. Helix after Helix fell to the blazing rifles. Miranda could only clench her camera tightly as she snapped pictures. Adrenaline flushed through her body ignoring her fear and dread from being in her first battle.


    ¡°Reloading!¡± shouted Spears.


    ¡°Fall back to the Smokes!¡± called out Marks.


    ¡°They¡¯re getting closer!¡± cried Ito.


    Spears turned to run, but stumbled as a crawling host swiped at his leg.


    ¡°Spears is down!¡± Miranda yelped. She moved to go help, but was pulled by Collins towards her SMC.


    ¡°Doc, get into the Smoke, it¡¯s the safest place right now!¡± Collins shouted, raising his rifle, preparing to give Ito cover fire. ¡°Ito will get Spears. The mission is a wash if you get yourself killed!¡±


    I felt obligated to help; to do something other than watch as Spears gets mauled. But Collins was right. My job isn¡¯t to fight, it¡¯s to study. In the long run I¡¯ll help everyone by winning back our world.


    Spears roared in pain as a set of jaws crushed down onto his leg. He rattled off half a magazine of rounds, peppering the ghoul¡¯s face until it shredded into a cloud of spores. His bleeding leg ached, but was free.


    Ito grabbed and grunted as she hoisted Spears onto her shoulders, running sluggishly to the SMC¡¯s.


    ¡°Everyone in your Smokes!¡± ordered Marks. He pulled Spears into the passenger seat of Scout Three and swung himself behind the steering wheel.


    The driving shields locked down and tires screeched as they peeled away from the mob of Helix. The SMC¡¯s mounted machine guns blazed in a fury of muzzle flashes as they cleared their way through the intercepting crowd of hosts.


    With wild driving, they made it far enough away from their terrifying ordeal. A berth of freedom and relief welcomed them. Only No Man¡¯s Land stood in their way now.

 1.4: Charlie Mike

    The euphoria of my first battle is just now wearing off. Looks like we are pulling over. I imagine to examine Spear¡¯s wounds and take account from the incident over all. I am pleased to write that my Smoke buddy, Collins, seems to be back to his perky self. He tells me we are less than an hour¡¯s drive from Chicago¡­No Man¡¯s Land.


    Marks and Ito gingerly pulled Spears from his seat and onto the wet pavement. His leg was stiff and damp to the touch. His lower pant leg was brownish in color from the amount of blood that soaked into the fabric. Marks used a small pair of scissors from his first aid pouch to cut open the lower part of Spears¡¯ trousers.


    Spears sucked in air with a sharp hiss. His wound was already infected.


    ¡°Chavez!¡± beckoned Marks.


    Miranda jogged over to the trio, but flinched at the gruesome sight. Spear¡¯s raw flesh was covered in a strange pale slime. Most of his muscle had deteriorated away leaving flecks of white bone visible in the wound.


    ¡°Spears won¡¯t make this trip if he doesn¡¯t get to surgery,¡± said Miranda. She zoomed her camera sights and waited for it to focus on the corrosive slime. ¡°The host¡¯s saliva acts as an acid, to break down its meal. Much like we¡¯ve observed how the Helix eat.¡±


    ¡°C-can¡¯t f-feel a thing, Sarge,¡± grunted Spears.


    ¡°You¡¯ll start feeling it soon, trust me.¡± Marks cleaned the wound to the best of his ability and began wrapping the gash with a bandage. ¡°And I can¡¯t have you on this mission in your condition.¡±


    ¡°W-who apart f-from the gods is without p-pain for his whole l-lifetime¡¯s length? Aeschylus,¡± responded Spears. His face shivered and sweat.


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    ¡°I really don¡¯t care what some Roman dead guy has to say about this, Spears.¡±


    ¡°Greek, Sergeant,¡± corrected Miranda.


    Marks glared at the doctor before turning to Ito. ¡°Take Spears to the nearest post.¡±


    ¡°With all do respect, Sergeant, The mission is Fubar!¡± Ito said, raising her voice.


    Fucked up beyond all recognition. I always found military jargon amusing. Fubar and Snafu are my two personal favorites.


    ¡°Stand down, Corporal.¡±


    ¡°Spears might lose a leg and you want to go into one of the most dangerous spots without any support for a hundred miles?¡± Ito was shouting now. Collins and Flores climbed out of their respective SMC¡¯s.


    ¡°Stand down, Corporal,¡± Marks repeated.


    ¡°All because some civilian has a death wish and a fascination for these things?¡± Ito thrust her finger on Miranda¡¯s chest. ¡°You ain¡¯t worth it, Fragglerock!¡±


    ¡°I said Stand down!¡± Marks roared. The entire squad cracked to attention at Marks¡¯ thundering voice. ¡°You think I don¡¯t agree with you? I know that we are in for a world of shit. I know that! You know why I know that?¡± Marks didn¡¯t wait for Ito¡¯s response. ¡°Because we¡¯re the god damn Dead Man Division! We take the missions no one else will take and no command wants to give.¡±


    ¡°Hooah!¡± Collins cheered.


    ¡°Our mission is to bring Chavez to the No Man¡¯s Land so she can learn something we don¡¯t already know about the Helix.¡± Marks lifted up Spears and shouldered him. ¡°Maybe it will be something that can help us win this damn thing¡­¡±


    Hopefully.


    ¡°¡­And maybe it will just be another thing to show us how screwed we actually are.¡±


    Hopefully not.


    ¡°But none of that matters, Ito. What matters now is that you get Spears some help.¡± Marks and Ito rested the wounded Spears into his seat.


    ¡°Marks¡­Tyler¡­If you don¡¯t make it out of this, you taught-¡± Ito tried to say as she buckled her harness


    ¡°Save it,¡± said Marks. He pulled the SMC¡¯s driving shield down.


    Miranda watched as Ito and Spears drove away.


    Marks put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Get to your Smoke. Chicago is our next stop¡±

 1.5: R.E.M.

    Chicago¡­No Man¡¯s Land. We finally made it and it didn''t disappoint.


    Years of bombings left the city in a rubbled heap. Where buildings once were, now mounds of concentrated material stood. Crawling Helix and maggots came forth from a network of tunnels. Mindless hosts, once dedicated to planet Earth-now dedicated to the aliens, roamed over the up-heaved concrete. The American forces created barricades of abandoned and charred humvees and tanks at the entrances of the city¡¯s highways in hope to ward off anyone looking to enter the city. A derelict for humans; an infestation for the Helix.


    The final remnants of daylight transformed into nightfall as the two SMC¡¯s reached the makeshift mechanical walls of the grim city. With them followed rolling thunderstorms. Crackling, haunting lightning gave them their only light save for their headlights. The distant sounds of clattering and humming carried off the wind.


    Mark¡¯s voice broke through the eerie calmness of Scout 2.¡°Proceed with caution, Collins.¡±


    ¡°Roger that, Sergeant,¡± responded the private. His voice was shaky, trying to find courage as they entered the gates of Hell. ¡°I wish Spears was here. He¡¯d have some pearls of wisdom to get us through this.¡±


    ¡°I wish he was here too, mano,¡± said Flores.


    The SMCs¡¯ engines growled as they climbed over the barricade and entered lugging slowly through the streets. The mindless zombies parted ways around the vehicles, never paying much attention to the drivers inside.


    ¡°Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff-they comfort me,¡± Miranda recited. She tried to hold a stoic bravery as she watched the eerie, glowing eyes pass by.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for the religious type, Doc,¡± Collins said, turning his head enough to catch a glimpse of his passenger.


    I used to be. Before the war. Before God abandoned us¡­me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she said quietly, ¡°Just thought anything might help us tonight. Divine or practical.¡± She wrung her hands until her wrist grew sore.


    Maybe He¡¯s still there. Watching over me. Waiting to show himself. Maybe I just need to trust Him, like I once did. We could all use some hope in this world¡­it¡¯s all we have left.


    The pavement gradually became a soft mush, like snow but a grainy, mustard-yellow. The road gradually declined into a giant tunnel, of which webbed cocoons dangled from the roof of the mouth. Teal electricity pulsed within a thin layer of membrane that covered the wall, all leading further down the tunnel.


    ¡°Tell the Sergeant that I have my suspicions that this will lead to the queen,¡± Miranda dictated to Collins.


    ¡°You have your suspicions? Have we any idea that the Helix even has a queen?¡± asked Marks.


    Miranda bit her lip.


    We actually have never seen a hierarchy or organization of the Helix. My superiors have only had a hypothesis that if the Helix were anything like our Vespidae, then they would also have a queen and possibly a centralized hive. What brought me to Chicago in the first place was ground zero of this entire invasion. They thrived when we dropped a nuke on them, but we could never get further into the city to discover anything greater than what we had already discovered. This docile nature that the Helix seem to be in at the moment may be our only chance of finding a queen.


    ¡°They must have a queen, Sergeant,¡± argued Miranda. It¡¯s the only chance we have to find a way to disable the Helix once and for all.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Chavez. We press on,¡± Marks ordered.


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    They followed the main tunnel, as smaller ones splintered off into the unknown fathoms. The electric currents glowed stronger until the tunnel opened into a massive cavern. Hundreds of Helix carcasses were piled against the walls, as well as host lain strewn about. Larvae squirmed about on the ceilings. The waves of energy that the Dead Man Division were following lead to a gargantuan insect at the center of the chasm. Its shell was dark red and black. Wings stirred partially from its back. Its antennas twitched in circles, as it feasted on the heap of Helix and hosts. In intervals the creature expelled a charge of electricity that passed through the walls of the hive.


    The queen. She exists. She really exists!


    ¡°Is that what I think it is, Chavez?¡± asked a stupefied Flores.


    ¡°I believe it is. I think the power we see flowing through the hive is a signal to have the Helix come to her, so she can feed on her brood.¡± Miranda¡¯s words blurted out in excitement. She could hardly conduct herself, ¡°It must be how she sustains her size and egg laying capacity. Though I don¡¯t know how long or when this process will happen again.¡±


    ¡°Orders, Sergeant?¡± asked Collins.


    ¡°Light it up!¡± commanded Marks.


    ¡°Light it up?¡± This is the discovery of the century! He can¡¯t be serious?


    ¡°Wait! There¡¯s so much more we can learn from her!¡± pleaded Miranda, ¡°We are here to observe, not destroy!¡±


    ¡°We came all this way to find out what can kill these fuckers and you want to save their lives? Snarled Marks, ¡°Who¡¯s side are you on, Chavez?¡±


    Collins flipped open the latches of the machine gun triggers, ¡°Are we really doing this, Sarge?¡±


    ¡°Listen to reason, Marks.¡± Miranda lowered her voice to a calmness, knowing the situation needed to be tread on delicately. ¡°We are on the precipice of victory, and if you go in guns blazing, this could come out completely fubar.¡±


    ¡°Nice usage of our word, Doc.¡± Collins smiled.


    ¡°Shut up, Private!¡± Marks paused between his words. ¡°What do you suggest, Chavez?¡±


    ¡°Leave. Now. Report our findings to command, let the higher ups take it over from here. They can study further and make an educated decision.¡±


    The pulsating energy grew quiet. Clicking from Helix clamored behind the vehicles as the queen turned to stare into the fearful eyes of the soldiers.


    ¡°She sees us,¡± Miranda gulped, ¡°We have to move-now!¡±


    The bug-like Helix dropped from the ceiling, landing with a thud onto the driving shields of the SMC¡¯s. Their acid saliva dripped into puddles onto the bullet proof glass.


    ¡°Go! Go! Go!¡± shouted Marks.


    Both vehicles whipped into a three-sixty and boosted away. Bullet casings bounced on the ground as the machine gun¡¯s rattled with a ratta-tat-tat blaring ahead.


    More and more Helix came down the tunnels, diving headlong like winged missiles into the armored vehicles. Streams of fiery liquid spewed from their mandibles as the carriers weaved from side to side.


    ¡°Watch that napalm!¡± Marks called out.


    ¡°They¡¯re aiming for our tires!¡± cried Flores.


    This isn¡¯t what I signed up for! This isn¡¯t what I signed up for! This is what I signed up for. Damn it!


    ¡°I see the exit! We¡¯re going to make it!¡± yelled Collins.


    The SMC¡¯s thrust faster, ramping over a large amount of Helix and coming down in a crunch on top of a group of unlucky hosts. Flesh ripped into a flaying mess as blood sprayed from turning wheels climbing body over body. The speed at which they bolted peeled away the Helix failing to hold onto the vehicles. The soldiers were free as they breached the barricade and escaped the city.


    ¡°Everyone alright?¡± asked Marks.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t mind a vacation, Sarge!¡± chuckled Collins, nervously, ¡°Is it possible we can get the weekend off?¡±


    ¡°And to think I left being a cook for this. Mierda, I¡¯m an idiot!¡± sighed Flores.


    ¡°You boys did good. Job well done. Let¡¯s go home.


    August 13th 2045


    Day 4 with the Dead Man Division


    We survived No Man¡¯s Land. I think it¡¯s just past midnight as we head back to base. I can tell Marks did something against his gut, something he¡¯s never done before. Maybe he¡¯ll respect me a bit less for that. But he¡¯ll thank me in the long run. We¡¯ve done it, we found out how to turn around this war. America fell in fifteen years; now, after today, America will get back up.


    Collins is playing a band called, R.E.M.


    It¡¯s the end of the world¡­and I feel fine.

 2.1: The Green Monster

    Novemeber 17th, 2045


    A little squad in the Army struck gold and discovered how to beat this damn war. Well I don¡¯t know what¡¯s taking so long to end it, but I guess we just got to trust the top brass to do what they got to do instead of jerking themselves off.


    That squad went from some no name group of soldiers to legends, yeah even here in the corps. They called themselves the Dead Man Division. Real cool name if you ask this lowly marine.


    Private Woods sat high in the stands of Fenway Park, far away from any other marine and civilian. That''s just how he liked it. Away from the chatter and the chaos of the Helix War, just alone in his thoughts. Not so much to stew in, perhaps just to simmer.


    ¡°Woods, there you are. Have you shaved that damn beard yet?¡±


    Lance Corporal Tomlinson. As high speed as a noncon was going to get. Always on my ass to get me straightened up. I guess he didn¡¯t know the world had gone to shit and the last thing on my mind was to keep regulation. I don¡¯t blame him for his uptight ways. He was a good guy trying to cling onto order and sanity of the ways of his beloved corps. Me? I just wanted to live another day.


    Woods scratched his scruffy, dark beard. ¡°No Corporal. My razor is dull and the PX hasn¡¯t been restocked since last month.


    That was a lie. Not that PX hadn¡¯t been resupplied, but my razor was sharp enough to slit open my throat. I was never shaving my beard.


    Tomlinson handed Woods a small plastic razor. ¡°That¡¯s fine, I brought you mine. Captain Diaz wants you shaved by chow time. If she sees you without a clean face she¡¯s going to smoke you and I until next winter. It would behoove you to freshen up.¡±


    Woods pursed his lips as he took the razor. He rubbed his beard, perhaps for the last time. ¡°You expect me to dry-shave?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Tomlinson tossed the unruly soldier a bottle of water.


    The bottle was freezing in the Boston Winter air.


    ¡°Dude.¡±


    Tomlinson gave Woods a smug smile.


    Woods screwed open the cap and continued to complain, ¡°It¡¯s got to be ten degrees out, you can¡¯t be freakin¡¯ serious!¡±


    Tomlinson gave a cruel chuckle. ¡°You should have thought of that before going Grizzly Adams under Captain Diaz¡¯s leadership.¡± Tomlinson turned and started the long walk back down to the baseball field where his unit made their base of operations. ¡°No beard by chow time, Private! That¡¯s an order.¡±


    ***


    Boston Massachusetts served as the largest stronghold of the Northeast. Washington D.C. was long abandoned at the start of the war and New York City fell three years later. Go figure that Beantown, with the hardest headed people in New England, would be the Americans that gave the biggest fight.


    Now, I¡¯m New England born and raised, but I¡¯m from some hick town in Connecticut. Smack dab between Waterbury and Southington. You¡¯d think I¡¯d be thrilled to be stationed at the great Fenway Park, where the Sox used to play, but to tell you the truth I rooted for the Yankees. Yeah I know, turn in my New Englander card, yada, yada. You got to understand, once Connecticut lost the Whalers, the state wasn¡¯t the same, we had to ride on the coattails of all the Mass teams. It just kinda sucked.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    A newly shaven, defeated Woods shuffled with a tray full of food to the table where his squad mates sat. Tomlinson waved him down to an open seat. Captain Diaz stuck a spoon at him and smiled. Spinach covered her teeth, which made Woods try to hide his smooth face even more.


    ¡°Let me see that jawline, Private Woods,¡± Diaz said.


    Woods sulked as he showed off face.


    ¡°Smooth as a baby¡¯s ass!¡± hooted Gunnery Sergeant Burns.


    If Tomlinson is Luke Skywalker, I¡¯d say Gunny would be his Yoda, just not as wise. Definitely as old. Gunny has to be pushing sixty and he¡¯s still carrying his weapon into battle every day. The man is a beast. I heard he was trained as a sniper-delta force ninja early in his career, but decided to take it slower and joined up with our platoon.


    ¡°Good, good.¡± nodded Diaz. She looked around the commissary. ¡°Where is Kekipi?¡±


    Woods looked behind him and spotted the medic filling his cup with sweet tea before taking his seat across from Burns.


    ¡°Glad you can join us, Sergeant,¡± said Diaz, ¡°Now, let¡¯s get started.¡±


    Her squad put down their dinner rolls and forks to listen to what their leader had to say.


    ¡°A storm is coming in and we¡¯ve been selected to patrol Sector Bravo.¡±


    ¡°The Helix have been so quiet, Captain, why do they need us to patrol before a blizzard?¡± asked Tomlinson.


    ¡°Probably to look for any folks that are coming into Boston for help,¡± suggested Kekipi.


    ¡°Correct, Doc,¡± confirmed Diaz. ¡°This storm could bring in two to three feet of snow and any stranded civilian will fall victim to frostbite or some stray Helix.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure I am well supplied before we move out, Captain,¡± Kekipi said.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I want to hear, Doc.¡± Diaz looked at Woods. ¡°See, Woods, a little initiative is appreciated in my squad.¡±


    Woods would have liked to give Diaz the nastiest look he could muster, but instead he just smiled and nodded. ¡°Noted, Cap.¡±


    Diaz rubbed her hands together. ¡°This will be a perfect chance to prove that we Marines are the real Dead Man Division.¡±


    Woods groaned under his breath.


    The Captain has an unhealthy obsession with the Dead Man Division. The idea that the Army became famous and claimed such a badass nickname made a lot of Marines jealous, sure, but Diaz is taking it to a whole nother level. ¡®We¡¯re taking the Dead Man Division title back¡¯ Oorah and all that macho bullshit that we Marines are known for. It¡¯s really cringy.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, Woods,¡± scolded Diaz. ¡°We¡¯re the god damn Marine Corps. It¡¯s in our blood! It¡¯s in our history! First boots on the front lines. We are the spear and sword of this military and who grabs the name first? The 10th Mountain Division of the fucking Army!¡±


    Gunny flashed a smile and Tomlinson nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I for one won¡¯t take it,¡± continued Diaz. ¡°And neither is any man underneath me. We will be the Dead Man Division, and no one will stop us from achieving that!¡±


    ¡°Oorah, damn straight, Captain!¡± shouted Burns.


    Woods rolled his eyes. He looked at Kekipi who stayed silent.


    Doc is a reasonable one. Very level headed under pressure and doesn¡¯t get riled up by Diaz¡¯s hype. I heard his great-great-great grandpa was some kind of local Hawaiian legend. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor during World War 2, but he fell in love with this Hawaiian native. Like they wanted to get married and have kids. Kekipi¡¯s grandpa was a Marine and was about to be shipped to the Pacific theater. So what did he do? The guy freakin¡¯ jumped off the ship and swam back to Hawaii to marry that girl of his. So the natives called him ¡®Kekipi¡¯. It¡¯s supposed to mean ¡®rebel¡¯ or something.


    That guy was a badass. I think my grandpa owned a radio shack.

 2.2: Newbury Comics

    The wind picked up with a chin biting fierceness as the small squad of marines patrolled the car piled streets of Kenmore Square. Woods trudged in the rear as he tried desperately to keep his beardless face warm. He looked at the various boarded up shops and abandoned gas stations before spotting a familiar street past an alleyway.


    ¡°Newbury Comics is close to here, isn¡¯t it?¡± asked Woods. His eyes tried to peek down a connecting street that crossed into Newbury street.


    Newbury Comics was this hip comic store that was part way between a Hot Topic, Suncoast Video, and the graphic novel section of a Barnes and Noble. It was the coolest place on Earth and I wish to the Lord Almighty that we had one in Wolcott.


    ¡°South of us, less than a couple blocks, I believe,¡± answered Diaz. ¡°Of course you would read comic books, wouldn¡¯t Woods?¡±


    Woods beamed a bright smile. ¡°Yes, I would, Captain!¡±


    ¡°I read comics as a kid too,¡± piped up Tomlinson. ¡°X-Men was my go to book.¡±


    ¡°Stay frosty, men,¡± spat Burns. ¡°Keep your lips zipped. A Helix Frag is going to hear your squawkin¡¯ and blow us to kingdom come.


    Woods ignored the cranky gunnery sergeant and continued the conversation. ¡°My old man used to take the family to Boston and always let me run wild in Newbury Comics. I read Ghost Rider, Runaways, Teen Titans, and of course X-Men. Can¡¯t go wrong with X-Men.¡±


    ¡°Their movies sucked,¡± mumbled Tomlinson. ¡°Rogue was my favorite character and without her smoking hot body and skin tight suit, there¡¯s no point. She can kill you with a kiss, forbidden love, man.¡±


    Diaz turned to Tomlinson and smirked. ¡°Southern accents turn me on.¡±


    Woods let out a chuckle.


    Comics were a big part of my childhood. My grandpa bought my dad a stack of manga for his sixteenth birthday. He had all the classics. Naruto, Bleach, Attack on Titan, and Dragonball Z. When I turned sixteen, Dad passed them onto me. I gobbled them up like ramen. Awesome action and you read them backwards! I always thought I too would pass them onto my kid, but then when the Frags reached my town I had to leave them behind. I can¡¯t believe I lost them! I lost a lot of things in this fucking war.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The marines reached the Hynes Convention Center when the snowstorm finally hit them. Lumps of snow dropped at a rapid rate as did the temperature from a brisk forty degrees to below three degrees. In like a frozen wildfire the snow swept through the roads and sidewalks. Diaz tried to press on to the end of their route, but the air was a complete , blinding white out.


    ¡°Captain, we should find shelter. We¡¯ll all get frostbite if we don¡¯t,¡± Kekipi shouted over the roaring wind.


    The United States military had done well for itself considering we¡¯ve been in a losing war for the last fifty years. Yeah, I know, I know, the cities have been mostly infested with Helix and Frags. All our beloved celebrities either died out or went into hiding. Worst of all, social media is now a lost art. The only memes we get to see is ¡°Kilroy was here¡±! But, it¡¯s not all that bad considering our shitty situation.


    Headquarters makes sure we''re stocked with warm food, necessary supplies like¡­razors¡­clothing, and the odd way to entertain this marine. Books, soccer balls, and the good old AFN. That would be the American Forces Network. They broadcast news and music over our radio.


    However, they have neglected to send us cold weather gear other than beanies and gloves. Oh, but they never fail to send us PT Belts! Got to have those reflective belts for our jogs around the field. Idiots.


    Diaz nodded in agreement to Kekipi and ordered Woods and Burns to scout out the convention center.


    Woods clicked his safety switch off and raised his rifle to his shoulder. Together he and Burns filed through an opening in a broken glass pane and made their way into the main hall. Woods scanned the upper balconies for Helix or the mind controlled Frags. But found none.


    ¡°Main hall is all clear, Gunny,¡± said Woods. He lowered his rifle and took a knee.


    One by one the rest of the squad made their way into the main hall and rested along the walls. Captain Diaz arched her neck and reared her sights on the higher floor.


    The massive building creaked and echoed with noises that bounced off the ceiling and walls. It may have been birds or rats, but it might have also been the Helix. The marines kept their eyes alert and their nerves on edge.


    ¡°Tommy, take Woods and make sure the upper floor is empty. There might be some stranded people we can bring back to Fenway,¡± Diaz ordered.


    Tomlinson jumped to his feet. ¡°Roger that, Cap.¡± He slapped Wood¡¯s kevlar helmet. ¡°You heard the boss, let¡¯s check out that second floor.¡±

 2.3: Dunkin Donuts

    Woods and Tomlinson cautiously made their way up an escalator, long shut down with the rest of the convention. Other than the calming cooing from the pigeons looking for shelter from the roaring storm outside, Woods heard only silence.


    I went with a couple friends to an anime convention. It was held in this building. I remember it well. I cosplayed as Itachi and made a jackass of myself trying to impress some pretty girls. They laughed in my face, but I stuck to my guns and walked off thinking I was suave. I bet just being a marine would be enough now. Who am I kidding? Those girls are probably frags now.


    The two marines stepped onto the second level and scanned their surroundings. Trash littered the floor and snow swept through broken windows huddling into corners. Rats scurried between rooms as shadows crept along the walls.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look all that bad for being abandoned for such a long time,¡± Woods commented.


    ¡°What were you expecting?¡± Tomlinson asked. ¡°Night of the Living Dead?¡±


    ¡°Truthfully?¡± Woods responded with a nod.


    Tomlinson raised his rifle and poked his head through the nearest door. ¡°Keep sharp.¡±


    Woods picked up a discarded paper cup and read the faded label. ¡°Dunkin¡¯.¡±


    The lance corporal glanced back at his partner and tilted his brow.


    Wood examined the empty cup. ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯re from California. You don¡¯t really have a Dunkin¡¯ Donuts.¡±


    ¡°We had one¡­two towns over.¡±


    ¡°I think our town had twelve in a mile radius.¡±


    Tomlinson reached and grabbed the cup. ¡°Must¡¯ve been the best coffee to be that successful.¡±


    ¡°America runs on Dunkin¡¯, Corporal T.¡±


    Tomlinson crushed the cup and threw it over his shoulder. ¡°It runs on shit coffee and MRE¡¯s now.¡±


    Woods gave him a smirk. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle coffee at its worst, you don¡¯t deserve it at its best.¡±


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Tomlinson inspected the next room. ¡°I used to say the same thing about In N¡¯ Out fries. Man, they were gross. Always limp and cold.¡±


    Woods leaned against the neighboring wall. ¡°I heard the burgers were good.¡±


    ¡°They were great!¡± Tomlinson clapped Woods¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back. Nothing¡¯s u¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± A voice creaked out from down the hall.


    Woods raised his weapon and approached slowly. ¡°Identify yourself!¡±


    A stout man with a bristly mustache stumbled into the light. With raised hands and a trembling face he called back to the marines. ¡°Gabe! M-My name is Gabe!¡±


    Tomlinson poised his rifle at the man¡¯s chest. ¡°That¡¯s far enough, Gabe. Turn around and show us your neck.¡±


    Gabe did as told, spinning around and lowering his Red Sox¡¯s jacket to expose his neck. ¡°N-No aliens, see.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s clean, Corporal,¡± reported Woods.


    Gabe nodded his head vigorously. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Tomlinson walked past Gabe, his trigger finger still ready for a fire fight. ¡°Anyone else with you?¡±


    Gabe shot off a rapid succession of words too jumbled for either Tomlinson or Woods to catch. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here¡ªYou have to save my family¡ªThey are trapped in a nearby apartment!¡±


    Wood patted the frightened man¡¯s back. ¡°Slow down, Gabe.¡±


    Tomlinson pulled his radio to his mouth. ¡°Captain, we have a civilian up here. Over.¡±


    A faint crackle buzzed over the coms before Diaz¡¯s voice responded back. ¡°Is he in need of medical?¡±


    ¡°No ma¡¯am, but he looks in distress all the same. Over.¡±


    ¡°Roger. Head back, Corporal.¡±


    ***


    Patrol always had a way to make the day interesting. Whether it was killing Helix or just finding a hidden cache of twinkies and honey buns in a Cumbie¡¯s; patrol always had a way to make the day interesting. Today was no different.


    It turns out Gabe was sent by his family to get help. His apartment was a hotspot for Helix.


    Burns unfolded a map of Boston. He pointed to the Convention Center. ¡°We are here.¡±


    Everyone nodded.


    He rubbed his finger down a stretch of lines that made up the streets. ¡°We need to get here.¡±


    ¡°Huntington Ave,¡± muttered Diaz. ¡°Two klicks.¡±


    About a mile. It would be nothing if we had our Smokes. We¡¯d have armor and firepower to take down an army of Frags, but we¡¯re on foot¡ªin a blizzard.


    ¡°Captain Rand has that route,¡± Burns said. ¡°Let¡¯s radio and let him investigate.¡±


    ¡°This is our chance,¡± whispered Diaz.


    ¡°What is?¡± asked Kekipi.


    Diaz¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°To prove we are better than the Dead Man Division! To get some!¡±


    Christ, not this shit again. I should have joined the Coast Guard.


    Burns nodded and let out a low growl worthy of three packs of cigarettes a day. ¡°Oorah, Captain.¡±


    Woods let out a long sigh. ¡°Semper Gumby, always flexible!¡±