The Zombie Letters Read online

  “I am unaware of such an operation by that name, General,” Powers repeated with the exact same tone.

  Teel closed the file and leaned back in his chair, lighting up a cigarette. An unmarked officer walked inside. The General saluted him. The man simply stood right in the door, dressed in civilian clothes. Powers knew he was an officer. The man had a Special Forces tattoo on his lower arm that the high-ranking CO’s got during Desert Storm. Lots of top secret shit went down there. Alexander’s dad always talked about the shit that was behind the filed papers during that conflict. Especially the tattoos. The General looked at the man in the doorway. He shot a glance to Powers, then turned his head to the man at the door. Teel nodded and pointed his cigarette at Powers with the slightest of actual smiles. The man at the door simply walked out, shutting it behind him. Alexander could hear him whistling down the hallway. “As you know now, Powers . . . this place was not easy to find. Sort of an unconventional place for a base, isn’t it?”

  “These are unconventional times, General. After everything that’s happened with this outbreak, I understand the need for places like this.”

  “I read in your file that you are a diesel mechanic on top of everything else. And a damn good one at that. You will be stationed here starting immediately. All of your personal effects were moved into this facility last night before you arrived. I would insist on having a man like you. Regardless of his rank, you were always one that always realized the big picture, even when it required methods of operation that others may see as . . . unethical.”

  “Thank you, si . . . uhhh . . . General,” Powers stammered. “Thank you for this opportunity. I appreciate it.”

  “Dismissed, Powers. Anything else you wanna say before you’re briefed by the staff here?”

  “Anything, General?” Powers asked.

  “Yeah. This is an informal meeting, son.”

  “This place is amazing. If only my father could have seen this. He always had so many stories . . . most of which passed down by people who knew someone who knew someone who was into some shit. You know how it goes. He was always so fascinated by things that weren’t on the books. In a childish sort of way, I suppose I am too. Impressive . . . never seen one of these underground bunkers before. These places are so classified, you have to practically be the one holding the big, black marker to know about them.”

  Teel leaned toward the Staff Sergeant and offered him a cigarette. “What bunker?”

  Powers smiled and took the smoke. “Understood, General. Understood.”

  “Hey Powers,” Teel said as the Staff Sergeant was halfway out the door. Powers turned around and raised his eyebrows to him.

  “Yes?”

  “You passed my little test. Just between us now. Quatar Pass. What did you really see out there? The stories I’ve heard . . . unbelievable. Is it true?”

  Alexander slowly closed the door in front of him. Giving the General another smile, along with the most subtle of winks, he spoke through the small crack in the doorway. “Is what true?”

  II

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Morgan Harden

  September 9, 2015.

  This will be the first of my reports on Brian O’Reilly and my wife, Samantha Winters. After seven weeks, the human trial subjects are exhibiting completely normal metabolic function, vital scans and brain activity. A curious side effect - Samantha’s hair is growing at an estimated three times its normal speed. After multi-stage hair samples, it appears to be tapering off. I theorize that her rapid hair growth will return to normal when she reaches the length prior to her sickness. Blood pressure of the two subjects, including diastolic pressure appears normal, if not extremely healthy.

  I am putting in a formal request to volunteer myself for LYNN002. After synthesizing a stronger version, we have achieved maximum resiliency in mitochondrial biogenetic re-growth. If the new formula proves as effective as LYNN001, I am confident we can go to completion within 90 days.

  On a personal note, sir, I have something else to include. Hopefully all previous hard feelings aside, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude for this opportunity. Michael and Emily are enjoying their new schools and the apartment you hooked us up with was very generous of you. That place is exquisite. Just don’t wiretap the bathroom (haha).

  -----------------------------------------

  -Dr. Nathaniel Winters-

  “Without hope, there is no dream!!!!”

  LockeII Research Center, Washington DC

  III

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Harden

  October 3rd, 2015.

  I haven’t received a reply about my previous request to undergo testing for LYNN002. I know you are a busy man as well as I. So, I was just shooting you a friendly reminder, sir.

  This e-mail is regarding subject Brian O’Reilly. We are studying all aspects of possible side-effects and issues that could be related to the drug (though I can say with the utmost certainty that it is safe) and that includes sleep patterns. Brian has had bouts of insomnia. He is down to three hours to four hours of sleep a night. When he does sleep, there is little to no reading of the REM stage. A new town, a new facility, a new crew and limited communication with anywhere outside of the complex (I will make another formal request that Brian be granted a short R&R leave) is the source of this trend. I will be keeping a close eye on him, as well as the excellent night crew here, until his sleep pattern returns to normal.

  So far, Samantha has not exhibited any of the insomnia or irregular sleep patterns. However, she has been regularly experiencing lucid dreams. This is normal for her. I have attributed her short sleepwalking incident on September 30th to the same issues that are causing Brian’s sleep irregularity.

  Please do not take this as me being ungrateful. I just think that some out-of-lab time will be beneficial for them. Thanks again for the time you take with these reports and please do not feel rushed on my request to be submitted for LYNN002 testing. I do understand that we need all hands on deck around here. You have allowed Doctor Miles and me to retain our previous titles as directors of this facility and I know that we, as discoverers of the mitochondrial biogenesis breakthrough, are precious to you.

  -----------------------------------------

  -Dr. Nathaniel Winters-

  “Without hope, there is no dream!!!!”

  LockeII Research Center, Washington DC

  IV

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Harden.

  November 2nd, 2015

  I am thankful for your approval regarding Samantha’s and Brian’s leave time. Being guarded and supervised was a necessary evil regarding the media firestorm I have created. Regretfully so. There was never any ill intention in doing it. I know you said it is all water under the bridge and I do not wish to re-open old wounds, but I do regret it especially after how well we have all been treated. Thank you for the week you allowed all of us to have to take some time off. It has been all guns blazing day and night around here and I think you also felt the need to give them their time.

  I know you told me to write e-mails to you in layman’s terms and to leave the medical jargon to General Weiss, but there is an issue he will no doubt bring to your attention soon. The food intake of Samantha and Brian O’Reilly has gone up exponentially. I believe that Doctor Miles mentioned this to you in passing. He said something to the effect of, ‘those two are sure eating a lot.’ I do not know the source of this yet, but the two subjects have described to me a nearly insatiable appetite. The large consumption of food seems to be limited to meals high in protein. Mostly meats. Samantha is a vegetarian. Al
ways has been. Last night, she ate three medium rare steaks and still called for two sausage pizzas to be delivered to the front desk. Brian has had similar patterns. What strikes me as off is that as long as I have known him, he always insisted that his meat be cooked thoroughly. Almost burned. The two burgers he ordered from the cafeteria this afternoon were so bloody that they were nearly raw. I see a possible protein deficiency attributed to LYNN002. Only further tests will confirm or deny that.

  Sleep habits of Brian O’Reilly have not changed. In fact, REM sleep has disappeared completely. Despite numerous attempts to help him to at least try and rest, he responds with complete disregard. It was mentioned that I attempt light sedation, but I do not want to induce sleep until I know more about why this is occurring. At night, he is known to wander the sleeping quarters. He is still extremely active and alert despite this. Puzzling, because a protein dip in humans would cause extreme grogginess and lackluster performance in memory tests as well as motor skills.

  Samantha is down to four hours a night as well. This may seem alarming, but the extreme need for protein-rich excessive food consumption could very well be attributed to Samantha’s usually strict vegetarian diet and lack of vegetarian diet plans in this facility. As you know, over eighty percent of all documented protein deficiency cases are caused by inadequately-balanced vegetarian diets. In Brian’s case, his rare blood type may be the cause . . . his blood type causing a certain effect with the drug. Samantha does not have the same blood type and I find the similarities in their records purely coincidental.

  At your approval, I will be contacting a dietary specialist to accommodate for the cafeteria’s lack of diversity in its food program. Not your fault. This is a government installation, not the diner at the Ritz Carlton. I will order more in-depth blood tests for Brian and take measures to resolve a possible blood-type incompatibility with LYNN002.

  -----------------------------------------

  -Dr. Nathaniel Winters-

  “Without hope, there is no dream!!!!”

  LockeII Research Center, Washington DC

  V

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Harden,

  November 3rd, 2015

  Please respond to my request for undergoing the LYNN treatment myself. If the original request was not submitted properly, please let me know the proper procedure.

  Thank you.

  -----------------------------------------

  -Dr. Nathaniel Winters-

  “Without hope, there is no dream!!!!”

  LockeII Research Center, Washington DC

  VI

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Harden

  November 9th, 2015

  I am aware that over the course of these past six days, the subjects Samantha Winters and Brian O’Reilly have been regularly stealing raw beef and chicken from the kitchen freezers. As the theft was mentioned to Darin Miles and myself, I positively identified Samantha and Brian on the surveillance videos. They had both stolen and consumed an estimated thirty pounds of raw meat over the course of this past week. Camera footage clearly shows the two entering the kitchen during the night hours and eating the meat right out of the refrigeration units.

  I attempted to confront Brian and Samantha, who had not slept since my last e-mail. I was met with an uncharacteristically hostile response. No physical confrontation ensued, but the two most calm and good-natured people I know nearly came to blows with me. I will be closely monitoring them, as well as the oddly lethargic behavior in both of them that seems to be induced by the extreme lack of sleep.

  -----------------------------------------

  -Dr. Nathaniel Winters-

  “Without hope, there is no dream!!!!”

  LockeII Research Center, Washington DC

  VII

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Harden

  November 12th, 2015

  Thanks for granting me a meeting on such short notice. I am glad you backed me on my decision. The rumor started by Lab-A doctor Kareshi that I have stolen and injected myself with Lynn out of frustration due to my recent request denial is completely false. I, along with my written statements from Director Miles as well as four other staff members, will be moving for Doctor Kareshi’s immediate termination on the grounds of insubordination, falsifying patient records and severe misconduct. As I told you, I believe my personal human-trial request was denied based on sound and good cause. I am director of this venture and I would not be so foolish as to inject myself with the serum . . . which has, as of late, caused us great concern. Kareshi’s wild tales of mislead reports, threats, bribery and missing test results are unfounded and absurd. I am glad you are on board with me on this, sir.

  -----------------------------------------

  -Dr. Nathaniel Winters-

  “Without hope, there is no dream!!!!”

  LockeII Research Center, Washington DC

  VIII

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Harden

  November 20th, 2015

  As Gutierrez no doubt briefed you, I will be placing Samantha and Brian under quarantine cells A-7 and C-9. After last night’s attack that left one of my crew in critical condition and another dead, I will not risk anyone else’s safety. The subjects’ often lethargic and sluggish behavior as of late, which I foolishly attributed to the insomnia, was taken for granted and overlooked. Brian ran into an examination room with a scalpel and stabbed Doctor Minot in the throat. The attack was completely unprovoked and unmotivated. With both Samantha and Brian’s refusal to speak, I am forced to conclude that this may be attributed to a serum-induced psychosis caused by violent neurological side effects within the cells of the brain. I will be looking into this.

  In the ensuing chaos of what had happened, Samantha attacked Nurse Martha Perez by biting her on the shoulder, neck and left cheek, causing massive tissue and blood loss. Both LYNN subjects were tranquilized . . . but not after Brian O’Reilly used the scalpel to slice off one of his fingers and eat it. I ran two blood tests on Brian and found out that the protein level in his blood had tripled. I tell you, this is impossible by normal medical standards. I can explain the extreme fluctuation based on a test I did shortly after the attacks on the staff. The tissue regeneration caused by LYNN002 obviously closed the wound on Brian’s hand within minutes, but I can only account for the protein level fluctuations this way . . . which is only theory at this point, but I believe to be correct.

  Human protein is much different than that of plant, animal or even simian species. The morphological difference between us and animals, even apes, is so large that there is no problem distinguishing between the two. Direct nucleotide sequencing confirms this estimate. Human protein contains much different properties. Without getting too technical, the mitochondria is the ‘power plant’ of a cell. Due to LYNN002, those power plants are now self-repairing and self-sustaining. I injected dead human skin and eye samples with LYNN002 and discovered that the mitochondrial hyperactivity caused all protein strands in the dead tissue to be used up. Instantly. LYNN002 requires human protein . . . massive amounts of it to fuel its function. Animal tissue was tested with no effects at all.

  I sadly did not notice this until a much stronger version of LYNN was synthesized. The insatiable hunger was caused by the subjects’ bodies need for human protein. When Brian consumed his finger . . . upon waking, he kept repeating over and over that he wasn’t hungry anymore. First time he’d spoken in days. Not two and a half hours after that, Brian chewed off
his own tongue. I can only assume that Samantha will soon follow the same behavior pattern. Therefore, both subjects are heavily restrained. I have sent word to all my staff, as well as yours, that under no circumstances should they be allowed out of their restraints.

  -----------------------------------------

  -Dr. Nathaniel Winters-

  “Without hope, there is no dream!!!!”

  LockeII Research Center, Washington DC

  IX

  NATHANIEL WINTERS EMAIL

  SECURITY CLEARANCE ‘A’ ONLY

  CLASSIFIED

  ---------------------

  To General Morgan Harden

  January 1st, 2016

  I will accept Doctor Miles’ request to end his tenure with the team. Due to the stresses of recent events here, he has withdrawn his position. He stated nothing to me other than his need for immediate dismissal. I understand that you wish to have him back at the Iowa State LockeI lab as lead director on a new project. I am sure he will serve you well. I give him my highest recommendation, although his open distain for me has reached your collective ears. Despite that, I wish him well. I would like a copy of his resignation letter sent to me as well as his official transfer request report. I do not wish to be slandered and I want to make sure any words said about me are accurate. I do not believe Darin would do this, but this is just for my own personal satisfaction. Thank you.