Darker Days Read online

  The Undead Chronicles Volume 2

  Darker Days

  Patrick J. O’Brian

  Copyright 2020, Patrick J. O’Brian

  All rights reserved.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover by John Herrick.

  Published by

  Fideli Publishing, Inc.

  119 W. Morgan St.

  Martinsville, IN 46151

  www.FideliPublishing.com

  Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-one

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-nine

  Special thanks to Brad Wiemer, Korby Sommers, Jobina Wiemer, Kevin Sommers, Jeff Groves, Dave Blackford, Kendrick Shadoan, and John Herrick.

  This book is dedicated educators across the world.

  Our future depends on you folks more than ever, and you deserve

  so much more than you receive.

  Other novels by

  Patrick J. O’Brian include:

  The Fallen

  Reaper (Book 1 of the West Baden Murders Series)

  The Brotherhood

  Retribution (Book 2 of the West Baden Murders Series)

  Stolen Time

  Sins of the Father (Book 3 of the West Baden Murders Series)

  Six Days

  Dysfunction (Book 1 of the Terry Levine Detective Series)

  The Sleeping Phoenix

  Snowbound (Book 4 of the West Baden Murders Series)

  Sawmill Road (Book 2 of the Terry Levine Detective Series)

  Ghosts of West Baden (Book 5 of the West Baden Murders Series)

  Red Rain (Book 3 of the Terry Levine Detective Series)

  Sin Killer (Book 4 of the Terry Levine Detective Series)

  The Doomsday Clock (Book 6 of the West Baden Murders Series)

  Hallowed Grounds

  Home and Back Again (The Undead Chronicles Volume 1)

  Uncertain Terms

  Non-fiction works by Patrick J. O’Brian include:

  Risen from the Ashes: The History of the West Baden Springs Hotel

  Pluto in the Valley: The History of the French Lick Springs Hotel

  Learn more about Patrick and his projects at:

  www.pjobooks.com

  One

  Join the Navy. See the world. Survive the zombie apocalypse.

  While the United States Navy changed slogans over the years to appeal to younger generations, one never held truer than the one a lieutenant commander jotted down in his personal notes.

  During his childhood, Bryce Metzger often assumed responsibility in clubs, sports, and other school activities, knowing he wanted to make something of his life one day. He explored various options, knowing he eventually wanted to be his own boss, but doing so meant working for someone else first. Eventually he settled on the Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) program, thinking he might as well have his college paid for by someone else to reach his ultimate goal of managing or owning a business.

  He attended his first two years of college at University of Rochester, only an hour away from his parents and younger brother, knowing the decision that lie ahead. With his general studies mostly finished and a degree in business underway, Bryce knew he needed to commit to the United States Navy or pay for the remainder of his schooling on his own. Seeing the world on a fully weaponized ship appealed to him, so he completed intensive schooling, spending time in Norfolk, Virginia, and San Diego, along with summers aboard ships learning trades.

  His first summer aboard a ship taught him valuable lessons, like lifting his feet when crossing thresholds, or receiving injured, bloody shins in return. Although the concept of how tons of steel floated wasn’t lost on him, Bryce still couldn’t believe how solid warships looked and felt in person. He might have questioned whether they could be sunk if history hadn’t already taught him the answer through his numerous classes.

  Graduating from the University of Rochester simply led to another year of military schooling before he became a commissioned officer aboard the USS Mahan (DDG-72) for the better part of three years under two different skippers. During this period, he married Isabella Swanson, a young woman he met during his studies in Rochester, who studied history, hoping to eventually become a college professor and obtain her doctorate. Her career started well enough, but the discovery of her pregnancy almost immediately after her husband departed on a mission with his fleet temporarily derailed her ambitions.

  Beginning as an ensign, Bryce worked as a division officer, splitting his time between operations and engineering. He worked his way up to lieutenant junior grade before an assignment that led to four years aboard the USS Gravely (DDG-107) where he was eventually promoted to lieutenant. During this period, he became a department head, assuming more responsibility that set him on the course to eventually captain a ship if he attended certain schools and kept his record clean.

  Reaching a crossroads of sorts, Bryce needed to decide whether to return to civilian life and try his hand at business, or re-up with the Navy. Given an opportunity to work on shore, Bryce decided to extend his time in the military with Isabella’s blessing, knowing their son longed for more time around his father.

  Subconsciously he sought to stay in the military long enough to draw a pension, which provided him with income while Isabella decided on what endeavor she wanted for her future. He’d handcuffed her to military life long enough, so Bryce was willing to relocate wherever she wanted after his retirement to fulfill her career ambitions. Isabella landed a job at Norfolk State University as a professor, working on her doctorate, but Bryce knew her dream job wasn’t tethered to a military base.

  Although he didn’t detest shore duty, Bryce grew antsy to be on the water again, knowing he possessed the skills and the mindset to captain a ship someday. Luckily, all of his previous captains and senior officers took a liking to him, and he spent part of his time on land studying to move up the ranks. Returning to the USS Mahan as a lieutenant this time, Bryce recognized only a few faces from his first assignment still aboard the ship. He grew accustomed to very little sleep once again, worked his ass off, and eventually took a few more courses after his last tour with the ship.

  Both timing and schooling worked out in his favor when he attained the rank of lieutenant commander and became eligible to work as an executive officer (XO). The USS Ross (DDG-71) took on a new commanding officer (CO), barely Bryce’s senior, who needed an XO after the woman who held the post opted to retire.

  Bryce adjusted well to the move because the Ross ran much like any of the other Arleigh Burke-class destroyers he’d worked on previously. Many were commissioned and built during the 1990s, some w
ith newer weapons systems than others. Named for Donald K. Ross, a Medal of Honor recipient, the ship launched in March of 1996, typically changing captains every two years like most Navy warships.

  Adjusting to his new role required a few months, though Bryce refused to let his discomfort show around his new crew. Leading a division or a department placed him squarely in charge of a particular number of men and women, but now he dealt with every crew member at some point in time. While the CO dealt with the fighting aspect of the ship, the XO drowned in paperwork, dealing with personnel issues, maintenance, scheduling leave times, logistics, and acting as a firewall for anyone who wished to speak with the captain directly.

  It turned out working under Commander Mark Dascher wasn’t too bad once they passed the initial feeling out period. A bit more standoffish than some officers, Dascher felt a need to assert his authority before allowing any of the officers to speak freely to him. His process almost put a wedge between Dascher and the other officers because most destroyers weren’t large enough for the captain to have his own cook.

  Instead of eating with the other officers, however, Dascher chose to eat a bit earlier in the day for the first month. Gaining a little bit of trust with the man, because they dealt with one another often, Bryce suggested a little comradery might go a long way in establishing a rapport with the officers who worked often with the CO on the bridge. While they never openly said too much around Bryce, fearing he might have Dascher’s ear, they hinted that things were sometimes rigid during their time on watch.

  Regardless of rank, the man who ran a Navy ship was always called ‘captain’ or ‘sir’ by anyone who addressed him.

  Sailors inherently obey orders and respect their ship’s captain, so once Dascher loosened up a bit around his crew, morale aboard Ross took an upswing. Nearly half the ship, including its two highest ranking officers, carried out duties they hadn’t previously performed on a regular basis. Various drills helped develop confidence, and once Bryce discovered which methods of organization worked best for him, he excelled in his new role.

  Ordered away from its squadron to train with the Japanese navy for two weeks, Ross set sail from the middle of the Pacific Ocean where the fleet monitored recent unrest in North Korea and China. Another ship took its place in the squadron, and Bryce wore his formal white uniform for the very last time during a gala in Japan when the ship reached port. Dascher shared his intrigue about working with a foreign navy with Bryce, and the XO felt much the same. No language barrier hindered operations because the Japanese spoke reasonably fluent English, and the exercises occupied the various departments during all hours.

  Occasionally the ship was docked, allowing the sailors some time ashore to explore the towns, which resulted in alcohol consumption and intercourse for many of the seamen. Bryce took in some of the sights occasionally, but for the most part he remained with the ship to carry out his duties. He used his alone time to contact his wife and son, who neared his tenth birthday, wishing for a more conventional family life more than ever. He felt terrible that his brother and parents needed to travel to Norfolk to visit him when he returned home, because time didn’t permit for much family travel. When Bryce took Isabella and Nathan on trips, they were usually a day or two away at most, often to a museum, theme park, or the occasional camping trip.

  Five days into their training exercise, now closer to the Middle East, the captain received a message from the radio shack where all incoming transmissions were received. He shared the information with his XO that dozens, possibly hundreds of explosions occurred throughout the world, as the result of a suspected terror attack. All of the attacks took place in populated areas, often in factories, schools, or downtown districts in cities. Even worse, chemical agents were released from the detonated trucks that sickened thousands of people immediately. Panic, anger, and sympathy took hold of the world population immediately, and the timing of the attacks wasn’t lost on Bryce.

  In a sweeping move, all Navy ships were ordered away from shores across the world for fear that they might be attacked, or the chemical agents might infect the sailors. Bryce initially believed the government’s concern about the toxins seemed like overkill, but he soon discovered they knew more than he did about the chemical’s effects. Additional messages were received, and both Bryce and Dascher knew they couldn’t hide the disastrous aftermath of the attacks from their sailors. Many of the crew members possessed cell phones or access to the ship’s computers on a sign-in basis, so someone would eventually see the news and spread it like a different sort of virus across the destroyer.

  “There’s no hiding this from the crew,” Dascher groaned when his XO visited the captain in his quarters.

  Less than four hours after the explosions, news spread that some of the infected people were attacking and biting survivors. The government reiterated that ships needed to keep a safe distance from all shores for the time being.

  “Whatever happened is spreading,” the captain added. “And it’s everywhere. Our leadership isn’t saying much except this virus is spreading and anyone infected attacks healthy people. When people get bitten, they also get sick.”

  “This is a clusterfuck,” Bryce stated, already wanting to contact his wife to ensure that she and his son remained safe.

  Both men knew the ship couldn’t last incredibly long in isolation because they met up with oilers and other supply ships a few times each week to receive food, fuel, and everyday necessities like toilet paper. Unlike previous mass terrorist attacks, this one wouldn’t cease within a few days, or a week, because the released chemical agent brought about an entirely new set of problems for the military and first responders to handle.

  “How do I ask these kids to continue like nothing’s happening when I’m just as worried about my family back home?” Dascher questioned aloud, uncharacteristically lost.

  “Sir, you’re their captain,” Bryce said. “Hell, to a lot of these sailors you’re the only father figure they’ve ever had. If this gets worse, and it likely will, I suggest you be firm, but fair, and give them opportunities to contact their loved ones. It’s hard for any of us to carry out our duties if we’re preoccupied.”

  Despite any initial tensions easing between the two men, Bryce always referred to his ship’s captain with ‘sir’ or ‘captain’ because Dascher had never given him permission to do otherwise.

  Dascher provided a look of resolve, because he knew his XO provided good counsel as always. Only a year older than Bryce, at age 36, the captain possessed a full head of black hair, hazel eyes, and a clean face. His nose appeared ever so slightly offset, as though he’d been struck there during a skirmish or some high school sport years prior. Still a good athlete, the captain tended to jog outside during fair mornings, and inside when the weather didn’t agree with him. He took to making rounds and speaking to his officers, and some of the enlisted men, during such days, earning their respect.

  Many of the sailors stole opportunities to view footage on their phones or the ship’s computers, learning about the events unfolding around the world. Deciding to reduce anxiety, Dascher posted news footage in the cafeteria and break areas, making certain his officers kept their enlisted personnel from slacking off. Bryce felt the same tingle throughout his body that he experienced during 9/11 and subsequent worldly events carried out by people without souls. He watched in stunned silence with his shipmates as the terrible event sent ripples throughout every corner of the globe. The epidemic grew worse as the people sworn to protect citizens and country alike could only stare helplessly.

  Questions ran through the minds of every survivor, and in the case of those aboard Ross the captain couldn’t provide answers. If he possessed answers, he might have put his crew at ease, but the only messages he received from the government, so far as Bryce knew, contained strict orders. Either the government didn’t know exactly why people were getting sick and attacking survivors, or they didn’t wan
t panic spreading across their bases and vessels.

  Watching the news provided the sailors with some answers, while opening up many new questions. Some of them managed to reach family members and others did not, leaving them concerned and upset. For his part, Bryce managed to reach his parents soon after the onset, and his brother shortly after them. The captain informed him that the personnel left on the base were checking on the families of their own loved ones and those of the men and women at sea. Bryce attempted to call Isabella once, receiving no answer, and he refused to monopolize the satellite phone when other sailors desperately awaited answers.

  Within a few days, when the world realized the global crisis couldn’t be curbed, Dascher received orders to plot a course back to Naval Station Norfolk. To alleviate fears among his sailors, the captain reported that teams were being sent into town to gather up family members of enlisted personnel. Many families lived in apartments or rental houses outside of the base, but the station was being converted into a shelter to keep everyone safe. The epidemic continued to spread as the news outlets reported that the recently deceased returned to a rudimentary form of life to hunt down and consume the living.

  Sacrifices were made during the trip home, and sailors were happy to comply for the reward of seeing their family members sooner. Food and fuel ran low until they caught up to their old strike group, receiving supplies from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). With communications in disarray from the United States to allied nations, Navy personnel found their orders changing somewhat routinely. During the fifth day of travel, Dascher received permission to slow his ship to 10 knots from the admiral to conserve fuel, though it put them further behind the fleet. They were destined to meet up with a supply ship in a few days, and he needed to ensure they didn’t get stranded in the middle of an ocean.

  Realistically, the country wouldn’t be able to manufacture fuel much longer. Living and breathing people quickly became the minority, and infrastructure had already begun to crumble, as the crew could attest to. Abandoning the Ross to assure every sailor made it home sounded like a fair trade to Bryce, but it didn’t become a necessary sacrifice.