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“Ok, but be careful, please.”

“I will.”

“We might need you for our objective planning. Can you be in the Load Out room in about an hour?”

“If you need me there, yes.” She then gave Webb a kiss and walked off towards the lab.

Webb turned to Priest, “Let’s round up the team and see about planning this OP,” Webb instructed. Half an hour later, the entire team including Izzy was in the Load Out Room. Webb was addressing the group, “We have an important mission to execute ASAP. The scientists working here have hit a brick wall as far as progress. Bottom line, they need a “live” infected specimen to test.”

There was an audible groan from across the room. “Believe me, I don’t like it any better than you do, and I’m not comfortable putting the team in unnecessary danger trying to catch one of these infected. I am less comfortable having a live infected INSIDE the facility, much less the compound, but there you go. So, we need a plan to capture one of these things as safely as possible.” Webb looked around, then nodded to Priest. “You’re up, Sarge.”

“Ok, here is how it will go. I will run as the chicken on the bike to flush out any infected. Hopefully, the bike’s speed and maneuverability will allow me to stay a few steps ahead of any infected. To maintain as much safety as possible, we will take this out on the highway and out of the town. The town has way too many ambush opportunities, but out on the highway, we can see them coming. Shaw, Doc and Neville will be in the Jeep and they will be in the chase car.”

We

bb looked confused at Priest, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, I didn’t hear my name in there.”

“No Sir, you didn’t, and it was on purpose. If this thing goes sideways, and I mean worst-case scenario, then we need someone here who can maintain command. We both can’t be out there and risk both of us being killed. Things are way too important here for both of us to be out of the picture.”

Webb protested, but stopped. He knew Priest was right, no matter how much he hated it. “Fuck!”

“You must stay home with me,” Izzy joked. Webb sighed.

Priest smiled at him and continued, “Once you guys narrow down a target, Neville will take out its legs. This will decrease its mobility and make it somewhat easier to capture. Shaw will have on thick protective gloves and arm and head protection. We will manhandle the infected and get it secure enough for us to slap on cuffs and bind its legs. Also, to make sure we slap that belt on its mouth.”

Shaw added, “I got a sack we can throw over its head so none of the nasty spit and saliva gets on anyone during the melee.”

“Excellent idea!” Priest nodded his head. “Questions?”

Doc spoke up, “What if you run into the guys who shot this place up?”

“Good question. I’ll run and let Shaw light them up with the M48. If the shit hits the fan like that, then we bail on the infected and regroup back here at the compound. We face them together on our turf. Ok, gear up. We leave in thirty.”

CHAPTER 36

Priest had on the riding gear on that he swiped from the bike shop. He looked at the jacket and pants and they made sense. Both were thick leather to protect the rider from road rash, and there was no way the infected could bite through it either. Not to mention, the helmet was protection and a weapon all rolled into one.

Priest checked his M4 and slung it on his back, then secured his thigh holster for his PPQ. He walked out to see everyone out in the compound lot waiting on him. “Ok, we got everything?”

“Yep, all loaded up and ready to go,” Shaw answered.

Priest thought to himself, “Your men are top-notch, do you really need to ask?” He cleared his head and focused on the mission. He turned towards the bike, and Lia walked up to him.

She gave him a longing kiss. “Please be careful and come back soon.”

Priest cracked a smile, “Of course, you think I want to leave a beautiful creature like you alone with these trolls?”

“Hey, I resemble that remark,” Shaw yelled. Priest shook his head as he put on his helmet. He started up the Ninja and looked over at Shaw and he gave him a thumbs up.

They had modified his squad comms to plug into the speakers and microphone inside the motorcycle helmet. “This is Father, testing out the helmet comm. Do you copy?”

“Read you, Father,” Shaw responded.

“Ok then, lets rock-and-roll.” Priest took off on the Ninja with Shaw following close behind. They made their way east until they reached Rt. 421 and then Priest opened up on the throttle and took off down the highway. “Woo-hoo,” He yelled.

“Damn, Sarge. Where did you go?” “Around the earth a couple times,” he laughed. Priest backed off and looked around for any infected. There were several car pile-ups that could have been likely ambush locations and Priest gave those a wide berth.

As he proceeded down the highway, some movement caught his eye farther up the road. The high grass on his left moved until suddenly a figure on all fours came rushing out.