Derek Slaton - Dead America - Ground Zero

DEAD AMERICA

GROUND ZERO

BY DEREK SLATON

2019

CHAPTER ONE

Day Zero - 7:30AM

Brandon Shelton leaned over the stove, giving the egg mixture a good scrambling before leaving it to set into a fluffy omelette. He sprinkled cheese and spinach over it, and then glanced over at Samantha, waiting patiently at the kitchen island. He shot her a goofy grin and she couldn t help but laugh at his infectious expression.

You sure you don t want some ham or sausage in here? he asked.

She wrinkled her nose. No, daddy, eating animals is wrong!

Ten years old, and already a vegetarian. He turned back to the pan and muttered to himself, We ll see what happens when you re old enough to appreciate a properly prepared steak.

Melissa bounced into the kitchen in her yoga outfit, chocolate ponytail bouncing along behind her. Brandon drew his bottom lip between his teeth as he took a moment to admire his wife s tight body while she leaned over to grab the orange juice.

Mommy, daddy wants me to eat animals! Samantha whined.

Melissa chuckled as she poured herself a glass of juice. And why would he do such a thing? she asked playfully.

Because I don t want my little girl getting teased at school, he replied. This is Texas. Some things are sacred.

His wife rolled her eyes. We also live in the Liberal Alamo that is Austin. She kissed the top of her daughter s head. She ll be fine. She winked at Brandon. Besides, that just means more steak for us.

He chuckled and flipped the omelette, enjoying the hissss of the heat firing up on the egg.

My yoga class should be over by ten, so if you and Samantha want to meet me at the restaurant by eleven, we can have lunch together, Melissa said as she filled up her water bottle.

Brandon nodded. Sounds like a date. We should be finished with her check-up by then. He slid the finished omelette onto a plate and set it down in front of Samantha with a flourish just as his pager trilled it s intrusive ring.

He frowned as he crossed the kitchen to the device on the counter. Come on, Captain, this is the first day off I ve had in a week, he groaned.

They re not calling you in, are they? Melissa s brow furrowed, disappointment evident in her voice.

He shook his head. The digital readout simply said All hands on deck . I m sorry baby, I ve gotta go.

His wife pursed her lips as Samantha let out a little whine of disapproval.

If they re calling you in on your day off, it must be bad, Melissa said, putting a supportive hand on her daughter s shoulder. I ll take care of Samantha, you go play the hero.

Brandon approached them and pulled them both into a tight hug. Don t worry, I m sure it s nothing major, he said as he pulled back, noting the look of worry on his wife s face. When I was leaving last night there were a few callouts, so this probably nothing more than them needing another warm body on standby.

He focused his expression into a reassuring facade. But beneath his exterior, his heart pounded in his chest. In all his years on SWAT, there was only one other All hands on deck moment, and it had been a maniac with an AK-47 laying waste to an office building. Whatever was going on wasn t going to make for a pleasant day.

He gave Melissa a kiss and then leaned down to kiss the top of Samantha s head.

You were supposed to take me to my doctor s appointment! She pouted.

Brandon offered her a big smile. Mommy s going to take you, but I ll try to be there for lunch to make it up to you.

Make it up to me? She gave him a sly grin. So you won t eat meat either?

He winced as his wife barked a laugh. Okay honey, no meat at lunch, he promised.

Yay! Thanks daddy! Samantha cried and threw her arms around his neck.

He hugged her and then set her back in her seat. Okay, finish your breakfast so you can get going to your appointment. He stood up and ruffled her hair.

Melissa put a gentle hand on his arm. Be careful.

He gave her another sweet kiss. Always.

CHAPTER TWO

7:55AM

Brandon h ustled through the police station. It was in chaos, people rushing about everywhere, barking orders at each other, but it was only half as full as it should have been at that time of day.

As he entered the SWAT staging area, three of his coworkers were already there, gearing up.

Well it s about goddamn time you got here, Blanchard said gruffly. We were thinking we d have to leave without you.

Brandon rolled his eyes. I m pretty sure there s a regulation against going into a hostile situation without the best trooper in the unit.

Well, let s hope not, because I don t think Skidmore is making it in, Blanchard shot back, his salt-and-pepper beard glimmering in the fluorescents as he grinned.

There were laughs all around as they finished gearing up. Brandon shrugged into his vest and slung on his tactical assault rifle.

What in the hell happened to Skidmore, anyway? Dalton asked. He was the youngest of the quartet in his mid twenties, but with his tall frame dwarfing the rest of them, nobody would guess that right away.

Dudley shrugged from beside him, sliding his hat over his bald head. Probably the same thing that happened to the rest of our team. Out sick with that stomach bug or whatever the hell it is.

So do y all have any idea why we re in here on our day off? Brandon asked as he finished dressing.

Blanchard shook his head. Probably Alpha Team shitting themselves at the sight of a single loser with a handgun. They gotta call in the real badasses to bail em out.

I really wish that was the case, Blanchard, Captain Shultz declared from the doorway.

The four SWAT officers turned to their Captain as he entered the room, face pale and somber. That was never a good sign, and Brandon s stomach plummeted into his boots.

Don t mind me, Shultz said, waving them off. Y all finish getting suited up. Y all have places to be.

What gives, Captain? Dudley asked as he laced up a boot. Why are we here on our day off?

Shultz took a deep breath. Around 6:45 this morning, we got a call from a U.T. Campus Officer saying there was a major disturbance at the student medical center, he began. Now normally we would have just dispatched a couple of uniforms over there to check it out, but it so happens that the campus officer in question was one of my old partners from way back in the day. He said they needed the SWAT team, and I could hear that something wasn t right in his voice, so I complied. We heard nothing from then until this call came in to 911 at 7:25. He pulled out his cell phone and hit play on a recording.

911, what is your emer-

OH MY GOD SEND HELP! SEND HELP!

Brandon froze at the sound of utter fear in the man s voice. It was the embodiment of intense desperation, the sound of a man that had seen something horrendous.

Sir, I need you to calm down, what is your name and where are you?

I m with SWAT we need every available officer at th-

The sound of gunshots interrupted his yelling, and there were screams in the background.

Sir? Is everything okay?

They re fucking everywhere!

Where are you, sir?

U.T. Student Medical Center! Send everyone!

There were more gunshots, more screaming.

Die, motherfucker! Die! Die!

There was a clatter that sounded like the phone had been dropped, and then a very close scream of utter agony. Brandon let out a ragged breath that he hadn t been aware he was holding. His fists clenched and shook.

The Captain turned off the recording. There are a few more shots and screams before the line goes dead. We ve tried every form of communication we can think of, but to no avail. None of the SWAT team members are responding, and phone service in the area is out of commission.

The faces of the team were greenish-white, eyes wide.