Free AntiBio: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller by Jake Bible Page A

“ And each one is such a treat to behold.”
    “Have you seen our LT?” Milo says. “Lane?”
    “He has shown initiative and is already on board Eighteen,” Chief Roark. “So how about you join him and get the fuck out of my hair?”
    “Pleasure as always, Chief,” Milo nods.
    “Suck a dick, Kailua,” Chief Roark says as she makes four marks on a checklist, swipes her fingers, and watches the list blink out.
    Zebra squad work their way around mechanics and repair orbs that flit here and there through the transport bay. They get to Tranny Eighteen and stop, their eyes fixed on the unusual sight before them.
    A woman dressed in armor that matches the operators’, but is bright white instead of black, is busy shouting orders to a man and woman loading four long, grey cylinders into the cargo hold of the transport.
    “Is she Clean Guard?” Hoagie asks. “Doesn’t look like Clean Guard. She looks like a bug doc in Clean Guard drag.”
    The woman sees the squad standing there and nods then goes back to supervising the placement of the cylinders. A checklist appears in her hands as she scans one of the cylinders. Blaze’s eyes go wide as a picture of a woman appears then blinks out.
    “What?” Paulo asks. “You see something?”
    “Are there people in there?” Blaze asks. “I could have sworn-”
    “Zebra squad!” Ton shouts from the transport hatch. “Let’s move!”
    They turn their attention to their commanding officer and book it up into the transport. The inside is smooth metal just like every other surface in the tower. There are two seats up front, one on each side of the transport, and one in the rear. Other than that, there isn’t a single detail except for the reflections of the squad off the metal.
    “Sir,” Blaze says once all operators are inside and the hatch closes behind him. “The cargo. What is it?”
    “Not our concern, Sergeant,” Ton replies. “What is our concern is making sure Dr. DeBeers arrives at Control safe and sound.”
    “Why no Clean Guard, LT?” Hoagie asks. “Bug docs never travel outside Control without Clean Guards.”
    “How’d she get here without them?” Paulo asks. “I didn’t even think bug docs could leave Control without their escorts.”
    “You keep asking questions and I’ll keep not having answers,” Ton replies. “The mission is to deliver Dr. DeBeers and her cargo to Control. Yes, this should be accomplished by Clean Guard, but since they are not present, the task has been handed to us. We have the most runs between CC and Control which is why our leave was cut short. That’s all I know.”
    He focuses his eyes on Blaze.
    “Whatever you thought you saw, forget it,” Ton warns. “It’s a distraction and we can’t afford distractions. Take your stations and I’ll show you why.”
    Milo and Ton move up front , with Milo taking the left seat and Ton taking the right. Paulo sits in the seat against the right wall and Hoagie sits in the one by the left wall. Blaze grabs the seat in the rear. The dogs all settle on the floor next to their operators, ignoring the safety harnesses that slide up next to them. Vid screens come alive in front of each operator and they find themselves looking at a sat image of the Sicklands.
    “This is twenty-five clicks from the wall,” Ton says, swiping his hand across the image in front of him. The views zoom in on all screens. “As you can see, the satellites have picked up a large group of Cooties massing along our route.”
    “We need an alternate?” Milo asks. “Or will we engage?”
    “I would rather not do either,” Ton says. “But the doctor is on a time schedule and we can’t afford to go around.”
    “Engaging could cost us more time, sir,” Paulo says. “That’s a lot of Cooties.”
    “Estimates show the number to be close to sixty-five,” Worm states.
    “Sixty-five?” Hoagie asks. “You sure, Worm? I haven’t seen that many Cooties in one place in a long time.”
    “Like I said,