Zoe, following her morning routines as best as circumstances would allow, was the last to arrive. Back in her shorts, her pink tee shirt with Princess in glitter across the front and her new pink running shoes, she seemed alert and excited as she bounded down the last of the stairs and seemed to dance into the middle of the assembly area as she searched for Sergeant Morris.
"Okay, people," Tex shouted, "listen up!"
Activity and talking ceased and Zoe stopped where she was, turning to see him near the front door of the hospital.
"We're going right out the front door today. Volunteers, you'll follow the two fire teams closely and then get to your designated vehicles. If we make contact with any moaners out there then shoot for the head. Do not waste ammo. There is a gas station about a mile from here that we will be stopping at to fuel the trucks and buses. That area is not secure, so nobody is to leave any vehicle at any time without specific orders to do so. Just remember that this is a rescue mission and the safety of the people we are going after is our top priority. Those of us not driving are the diversionary strike, so let's make it count. Drivers, a hundred people are counting on you to get them to safety. You are all also under orders to get back here alive and not infected. Look out for each other out there." He clapped his hands together. "Okay, let's move out!"
As he stood at the door and watched his troops pass by him, slapping shoulders as they went by, Zoe hurried to him and was the last one he saw coming.
"There you are," he barked as he set his fists on his hips. "You ready to rock, Princess?"
She saluted as best she could and smartly replied, "Yes, Sir!"
Everyone boarded their respective vehicles, engines roared to life and the Stryker led the way as the convoy of four lumbered down the street toward their first objective. Tex sat in the passenger's seat of the Stryker with his weapon ready and aimed out the window, and Zoe sat cross legged between the two seats on the floor of the assault vehicle.
In only a few moments the convoy stopped with the Stryker pulling up on one side of the pumps and the first bus on the other side. The gas station was not a large one and was many years old, but the lights were still on, the pumps appeared to still work and the small store stood open and abandoned.
"Okay," Sergeant Morris said absently as he stared outside. "Here's where the fun begins." He got up and carefully stepped around the girl on the floor as he made his way to the back where his men waited. "Okay," he ordered as he looked them over, "We're going to have to do this fast. I'm going to want to establish a perimeter first, then we'll…" He trailed off as he heard the Stryker door close, and he raised his chin as he grumbled, "Somebody just went outside, didn't they?" He turned to see the driver standing behind him and looking over his shoulder.
Zoe was gone.
"Christ," Tex growled as he pushed past the driver and went back to the cab. Looking out the window, he saw her standing by the pump and looking it over as if she was trying to figure out how to work it. "Zoe!" he called in a low, impatient voice. When she turned and looked to him, he snapped in that low voice, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to put gas in the truck," she informed. "Daddy showed me how so I can fill up everything and everybody can stay on the truck."
He glanced around, then he looked back to her.
"The zombies don't bother me," she informed.
Tex huffed a breath, knowing that she was right, then he nodded and ordered, "Give a shout if you see anything coming."
She nodded and turned back to the pump.
Closing the door, Sergeant Morris slouched in his seat, just staring out the windshield as the driver sat back down. His eyes slid that way and he found the driver staring at him.
Raising his brow, the driver asked, "Maybe we should have her check the oil and clean the windshield while she's out there. By the way, does she know to put diesel in this thing and not gasoline?"
Tex's eyes widened. As he turned and grasped the door handle, he flinched as he saw the zombie girl staring at him through the open window and he yelled, "Jesus!" as he fell back into his seat.
Zoe just blinked, then she glanced at the driver before saying, "Um, it wants a credit card."
Sergeant Morris blew a deep breath out through pursed lips, then he looked to the girl and ordered, "Go into the store and look for the pump control. It should be behind the counter near the cash register."
She nodded and confirmed, "Okay, I think I can find it," then she hopped down from the machine and ran toward the store.
Tex watched as she ran into the store, and he shook his head. She held her elbows in and swung her hands back and forth as she ran, just like any girl her age would do. But for her gray skin, there was no other way to tell she was actually a zombie.
The driver was leaning forward, also watching the girl, and as he settled back into his seat he asked, "So, do you know when she turns eighteen?"
Morris looked to him with a low brow and barked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Oh, come on, Sarge," the driver scoffed. "Don't tell me you've looked at that body and not thought about it. Moaner or not, she's got a hot little figure."
"She's an autistic kid," Tex informed with harsh words.
"I have Asperger's Syndrome," Zoe corrected from the window.
Startled again, Sergeant Morris yelled, "Son of a bitch!" as he swung his head back to the window.
Zoe's head flinched back and she informed, "There are a lot of buttons to turn on in there."
Tex drew another deep breath and asked, "Are any of them labeled?"
"Just by numbers," she replied.
He nodded. "Okay, just turn them all on."
She nodded again, then hopped down and ran back into the store.
The driver stared at him for a few long seconds, then, "So, you've never thought about it."
"Shut the hell up, man," Morris growled.
"Want me to warn you next time she's coming?" the driver asked.
"If you wouldn't mind," he snarled.
"She's back."
"Anyone want a soda?" Zoe barked. "The cooler is full of soda and stuff."
"I'll have one," the driver replied. Looking behind him, he called out, "Anybody want something to drink? Zombie girl's buying."
"Zoe," Tex began in a voice that sounded like his patience was strained. "Are we pumping gas yet?"
"No," she answered. "One of the guys said I should put diesel in because gas won't work in these."
Just staring ahead of him, Sergeant Morris nodded in slight motions and commended, "Okay, that's good."
"Do you want me to bring you something?" she asked.
"Sure," was his soft spoken reply.
"I tell you what," the driver added, "just bring whatever you can find in there. I'm sure we can use it."
"Bring some beer!" someone in the back shouted.
The radio sounded with a man's voice calling, "Shuttle One to Stryker One."
Sergeant Morris grabbed the microphone and held it to his mouth, saying, "Go ahead, Shuttle One."
"We have contact," Shuttle One informed. "One coming at us from across the street."
"Not good," he grumbled, leaning forward to look around the driver, who also looked out his window.
"There he is," the driver reported.
"There's never just one," Tex informed in a low voice. Raising the microphone to his mouth again, he said, "Attention convoy. Nobody move. Stay in your vehicles." He opened his door and leaned out of the Stryker. "Zoe! Get in the truck!"
She seemed confused as she looked up at him. Hearing something move behind her, she spun around, her eyes widening as another zombie staggered from the other side of the small store. A gasp rushed into her open mouth as he looked right at her, and kept coming.