Chapter 41

2 years in Taiwan, the BR's have studied the zombie virus in here. I didn't understand too much about it but from what I heard it was different from the one back at Philippines. First, infected in this country did rapid mutation to the body hence the elongated limbs. They too don't freeze during the evening but at least there were no animal zombies, instead they seem to die instantly after contracting the virus and the zombies don't seem to pay them any mind. The disease is still not fully understood but I heard it's not just transferred through biting or scratching, they say traces of it is in the air and fresh water. This also explains why even a few regions in the south, there weren't a lot of survivors. They failed to make a community much like back at home, the one here spreads more quickly. We were lucky because of our gear having air purifying function. I also heard from the announcements during assemblies, the virus react aggressively with our bodies especially for those who got bit before in our country and got cured. From what they've observed in some cases that were bit, like Aunt Pheene, the virus is reacting in contact of the vaccine and immune system. It was a lot to take in but common to those that were bit in our soldiers, the affected area showed signs of decomposition. All decomposed areas had to be removed to avoid further spreading, and in my aunt's case...her arm was amputated all the way to her shoulder.

Currently, I'm one hour in my duty. I'm the best sniper in this ship; after all I am the only sniper to begin with. My sniper rifle was given an upgrade, I am given a better scope letting me see everything 2,300 meters away from me but I only use it to observe. I've tried to shoot at that distance when I found a few survivors in danger but I'm not very used with it yet. My range of effectivity is still 2,000m at best. I can't keep track of everything though, I get contacted and that's only when I provide cover. But for now, I'm just up in my post waiting for a call. And then there it is, my walkie talkie rung which is a small pin like device. I don't need my full gear in this duty so I was given this one instead.

"Officer Ogram 13, do you copy. Over."

"Affirmative, over."

"Please proceed to simulation gym, over."

My brows furrowed, I already passed that simulation test a while ago. Why do they need me there? But as Nigel told me, disobedience will not be tolerated...

"Alright, I'm on my way. Over."

I flipped my rifle to safety and stored it back in my j-cube.

"I won't be available to provide cover until further notice." I spoke to my walkie talkie to let all the soldiers know I'm out of my post. It's rare they need me anyway, these people are highly skilled it's making me insecure.

I walked my way into the simulation gym. I hovered my hand on the scanner to let it scan my key-ring, it also functions as an ID of sort. The doors slid open and there I found the rest of the BBF.

"I thought you guys were staying at Pingtung?"

"We were," Ate Etil answered. "But Pheene called."

"She's taking the simulation exam." Kuya Larn added.

I walked up to the window and looked down to see my Aunt running and jumping here and there. Barely did she bring out a weapon to kill a dummy.

"How has it been so far?" I asked the person monitoring the computer.

"CG crushed the Philippine Simulation: Expander Exam, not a scratch on her and a high kill count alongside it. As of now she's taking Taiwan's version and so far she's doing good, still not a scratch. However, no kills." He said.

"How many times has she gone through the Taiwan's version?" I followed up.

"First," he replied.

Not long after, the simulation ended and Aunt Pheene stepped out of the gym. She was panting and sweating. She took off the gear she was wearing and revealed her spandex uniform underneath. It's the same garment worn under the armor gear. She didn't stop from there, she also took her top off and exhaled deeply. Underneath all those, she was wearing a sports bra minus the foam. But my eyes were glued somewhere else, I'm looking at her prosthetic arm which looks pretty damn cool. It's not any way stiff, it's like a normal arm when it moves. I wouldn't have noticed it if it had skin. The limb was made up of metal and deeply engraved in her body, probably even attached to her bones. It's a full functioning arm. But it wasn't just her arm that was replaced, it's vivid to the eyes there's more. All the affected tissue was replaced by what they call nanotechnology and I have no idea what the hell was that. All I know is it replaced even nerves and blood vessels that the damned virus destroyed. They didn't even seem to try to hide it, it's like there's blue-ish dark tattoo following her veins spreading from her left shoulder blades up to the left side of her neck and down to her chest all the way to her left ribs. But it wasn't the disease that took my aunt's arm, it was me... I did that to her...

"So, how did I do?" Aunt Pheene asked to the guy analyzing the results.

"You survived general, you passed. However, you didn't attempt to kill any dummy from this version of the simulation so your results are just...passed."

"Hmm, is that so...Will I be allowed to go on field?"

"You may but it's better you train first and get a sizeable kill in the simulation."

"Alright then, I'll give it another go. But first I'll speak with my team." Said aunt and turns to face us.

"Hey guys, been a while." Said aunt.

"Sorry we weren't here when you finally got up. You seem healthy...although you're arm..." Ate Etil pointed.

"Yeah, finally myself and don't worry about it, you guys got duties. God, you won't believe all the shit I went through! And this arm, yeah pretty neat. Feels like my fleshy arm, it itches sometimes too." She laughed. "Anyway, during my time being bed ridden I was hearing things. Like signal of sort calling me. Turns out they were real. You have encountered fleshy growth all over the place, correct?"

We all nodded even though I haven't encountered those face to face, I did saw them through my scope.

"Yeah well, the BR dept. confirmed it. All that were infected that were cured said they hear a call of sorts because it turns out the virus around here isn't a virus at all, fungus. Now two aerial scouts flew all over Taiwan to capture aerial view of places and some wonky shit is all over Taipei 101 skyscraper, actually the fungal fleshy growth is thickest in that city. And because of that, we have an assignment. We need to do few things: we get few samples from the buildings, streets, and bodies of water; we also observe the infected and see if there are any mutated ones."

Then she turn to look at me, "Vol, you know how to fly a jet?"

"No..."

Aunt Pheene's tongue clicked, "Nigel, you fly a jet and collect samples atop the skyscrapers, also be our cover shooter if things go awry."

Nigel nodded.

"Aight, let's go."

"Wait, you sure you're good to go?" I asked.

"We're scouting, not exterminating."

...

I rode one of the patrol motorcycles, now it makes sense why these run as fast as they do, they were patrol vehicles for less casualties. These babies maneuver so smoothly and can drift so low to keep moving and no stopping! I wish I could have one of these as my personal bike!

We waited for aunt to finish her second simulation test, in few more minutes she's here down the cargo bunker of the ship. Somehow this cruise ship also have a bunker but I guess it's part of the modifications made by ER's and Builders.

Aunt Pheene got in an empty patrol cycle. She starts it and there's a gentle whir of the engine that's barely audible. It's designed to make the least amount of noise to ensure high success rate especially for stealth missions.

"You guys hear me?"

Aunt's voice rung from a speaker within the vehicle. We each pushed a button next to it and acknowledged her question, even Nigel who's at the jet runway of the ship.

"Let's move."

Us the BBF left the ship, we travelled up north all the way to Taipei. We travelled for (time) and arrived at the outskirts of the city.

"Nigel, you already know what to do; Larn, collect growth samples from organic matter. Etil, you collect from inorganic matter; Vol, you and I will collect samples from any bodies of water. Stay safe, if there's a horde ride all the way to the nearest ocean. We'll see each other back at the ship at 5pm."

"Roger that," all the other three responded and moved along.