Thrive in Catastrophe Chapter 77

The base opened the pa.s.sage urgently and immediately prepared to close off the entry after the transport carrier entered, but the node jammed and three enemy craft invaded the base.

The three craft were successfully shot down, but in the Surge's usual style the craft were filled with zombies.

Although Xiao had only met Ling once or twice, he seemed quite competent, certainly no less capable that Winn. For these zombies to take out 12 special forces...that is too much!

The moment the hatch opened Xiao understood the reason.

The zombies they had encountered until now were driven by pure instinct and hunger. There was something different about the movement of these zombies. For one they were much faster.

The special forces were immediately dispatched and the zombies appeared to display a level of intelligence not previously encountered. They knew to attack the necks of the Special Forces. When the first soldier's neck was targeted, the others confirmed the situation and alerted the remaining fighters. Previously the zombies would just chaotically pounce on their prey, but now they were hiding, cooperating and organizing attacks....like a soldier.

Zombies alone are rarely fatal to the Special Forces, but once they started cooperating with each other, the situation instantly changed.

One the young soldiers goes to attack one of the zombies, when another lands atop his head. As he instinctively slashed upward, another runs up behind him and knocks him down. Once on the floor, several zombies hold his limbs down, until another bites his head so severely the image goes hazy with his blood.

Xiao is stunned. He stares at everything in horror, this is beyond their level cla.s.sifications!

"Xiao Yan. You don't have to hide under the quilt. I have already seen you." Gordon spoke plainly not the slightest hint of a smile disrupting his expression.

Xiao pushed the blanket off of his head. Xiao attempts a dignified look. Dead pigs don't need to worry about being boiled.

"As a researcher what is your a.s.sessment of the situation?"

"All viruses are constantly evolving to adapt to their changing environment and host...but given that these were deliberately released by the Surge, I think that the attack on the base was an experiment. Their actions are rapid and seem to display a level of intelligence. I would surmise that these zombies are the result of Surge experimentation. "

"Your guess is correct." Gordon nodded and then swiped across the screen

Now the image on the display shows that after the zombies ravaged the base for a sold hour, they suddenly squeezed their head with such force their skulls split and pus exploded through the air. The yellow fluid flew out in such quant.i.ty that it created a hazy filter over the image.

Xiao couldn't help but tremble. He didn't know he had stayed in the office with Heine for two days. He had slept for two days and hadn't eaten anything in four days. His stomach rolled at the image and he began to retch.

"Colonel Burton this news has spread to the Shire and the people are worried. Your team is the strongest combat force we have. Your new orders are to return before sunset tomorrow."

After that, the connection was terminated.

Xiao Yan glanced at the time. They would need to leave now.

As he flipped the quilt off of him, he discovered that both he and Heine were naked. Xiao hungrily looked at the broad line of his shoulders as they flowed into the bones of his clavicle. The he let his gaze dip lower and saw the shadow of that part of Heine... standing at attention. Xiao's body grew hot and he moved away quickly. He didn't go far as he quickly realized he had no idea where his clothes were.

Heine slowly sat up. He didn't stretch to his full height in front of Xiao Yan. His fingers pressed a b.u.t.ton and a pair of military uniforms emerged from the wall.

"Thank you."

Xiao Yan did not dare lift his head to meet Heine's gaze.

When Xiao finished putting on his uniform he saw that Heine was still sitting on the edge of the bed. His chin rested on his palm and his eyes were fixed on Xiao's body.

"Colonel, we should leave."

Xiao tried to control his heartrate. Being this close to Heine Burton was nerve wracking. He felt as though his heart was shaking in his chest and a fist was periodically squeezing it.

Heine finally got off the bed. He walked up to Xiao, straightened his collar and smoothed out his epaulettes.

Xiao Yan lowered his head to avoid Heine's eyes, but then his was faced with a more formidable part of Heine. His eyes widened at that very strong and imposing part of Heine. Although it lacks its former attack power, he is astounded that his body was able to accommodate its size. Xiao Yan shifted awkwardly, inwardly marveling at how incredible it all was.

Though...It had hurt...

Heine put on his uniform, his movement sharp and precise there is no delay in his smooth actions.

"Let's Go."

They exited the room and walked down the hall.

Due to the attack on 24 the whole base is in an emergency alert state.

Colonel Raven walked rapidly toward them. "Colonel, I'm sorry I didn't have time to properly send you off. I hope you have a safe return to the Shire."

"Thank you, Colonel."

Xiao didn't know if it was his imagination but the liaison officer standing next to Col. Raven turned bright red and lowered his face.

Since Xiao Yan was sleeping he didn't know that the officer had walked in while he was on the sofa with is leg out of the blanket. His skin had been marred with kiss marks from Heine. The liaison officer's nose had almost spurted blood on the spot.

Not to mention that when the officer went back to his office, he found it in complete disarray. The sofa had been moved from Xiao's struggles and there were white spots all over it. Not to mention the strong masculine musk that saturated the air.

The officer still remembered the cold eyes of Colonel Burton. He knew that if he said anything stupid his head would end up under his blade.

The aircraft headed toward the Shire.

Heine, Xiao and two others boarded the plane.

Heine opened the door to the c.o.c.kpit.

"Where are you going, lesser lieutenant?"

This is a combat craft.

"Colonel...who...pilot..."

"You and me."

The door closed.

The aircraft headed off the platform.

Xiao Yan was excited to have the opportunity to pilot with Heine again.

They started the system, went through the settings, and engine lock. He wasn't certain if Heine was accommodating him, but their thoughts were in complete sync with one another. They did not even have to do a neural calibration.

The aircraft smoothly exited the base.

The feeling of linking minds with Heine was amazing. They piloted the dual system with ease.

Mark sat in the cabin with a sullen expression. He whined in a low mutter. " I used to pilot the aircraft."

Liv lifted her leg and kicked his face. "You stupid big man! If the Surge invades the control system who do you think is more capable, you or Xiao Yan?"

"Me, of course." Mark said confidently.

"...." Liv could only smile and shake her head helplessly.

"We won't encounter the Surge! Look at the writing on the craft, we are Heine Burton's troops."

Xiao Yan was concentrating on the entire fight system when Heine's lips suddenly brushed against his. He nibbled along his mouth and Xiao subconsciously turned his face to see Heine's eyelashes pierce through the data display in front of him. He opened his mouth and Heine's breath entered and mingled with his own.

At that moment, the aircraft suddenly started to crash to the ground.

Mark reached out to steady himself and his eyes collided with Liv's, the meaning was loud and clear: Who said this guy is a better pilot that me?

However, despite their rapid decline, Heine didn't stop but rather deepened the kiss. The aircraft nearly collided with a structure when suddenly it climbed back into the sky.

Xiao's heart was beating out of control. Heine finally broke contact and leaned back.

Xiao Yan's heart through his chest when Hai Yin finally retreated from his mouth.

"Colonel! You..."

"You need to learn to focus."

"No matter what happens, even if a zombie has bitten your neck, as a pilot, you must be attentive. "

There is no trace of warmth to Heine's expression. He speaks indifferently as if everything that had just happened was no more than an illusion.

Xiao Yan let out a string of curses in his heart. He is not so naïve to think that Heine was just teaching him to 'focus'.

They flew over the desert and headed over rocky terrain. A strange rock land formation attracts Xiao's attention and he doesn't know if he will have another opportunity to see such a thing. The sun shines over the mountainous structure casting a deep stretching shadow, leaving the ground split into an extreme line of light and dark.

Suddenly the system alarm rang out. Before Xiao could even react, Heine had already readied the weapons systems and several missiles discharged.

Suddenly the rocks burst apart and two craft flew out from the debris.

Heine's troops are instantly ready for combat.

Xiao suddenly noticed a disruption in the operating system. A blocker!

"Concentrate on driving the aircraft."

In an instant, the burden of the dual system fell entirely onto Xiao Yan. Heine has withdrawn his mind to invade the dual system craft and control it remotely.

Remote piloting requires extremely strong thinking abilities. Not to mention there were two.

Xiao Yan fully realized the power of Heine Burton in that moment.

Then the enemy aircraft attacked Xiao Yan.

He does his best to speed up. The craft moved through the gaps in the mountains and rocks, using the jagged edges to obstruct the other.

"Lesser Lt. Use the weapons systems."

Xiao Yan allows his thinking to expand along the system and reaches the weapons system. It is a simple command sequence, but he must calculate the strike angle in an instant. Otherwise they could get caught in the damage.

A laser missile fired and large piece of mountain rock dislodged. The enemy craft was not hit by the shot.

Mark held his head in aggravation. He mournfully expressed his discontent at the missed shot.

What he didn't expect was that the enemy craft was. .h.i.t by the falling rock from the missile. In the next moment, another missile discharged and penetrated the falling rocks to hit the already damaged target.

Liv snorted at Marks complex expressions. "Don't look down on Xiao Yan. His thinking is far more flexible than yours."

Xiao Yan alone pilots the dual system and manipulates the weapons system without any training. It is already a miracle that Heine was able to invade the remaining craft under remote pilot and make sure they didn't try to take them down with them.

The crashed craft's hatch opened and more than a dozen zombies fled outside.

These were the same variants that Gordon had described.

Xiao uses the aircraft to record their running speed. Xiao can't help but exclaim aloud at the readings.

"Liv! Take my place!"

"Yes, Colonel!"

As Liv entered the c.o.c.kpit, Heine jumped down into the fray.

"What is the Colonel doing?" Xiao was suddenly nervous.

"Don't worry he is just trying to see what the zombies can do after the mutations."

The minute Heine landed, the zombie's rush toward him.

Heine pulled out his double edged blade and lowered his center of gravity. He instantly sliced off the limbs of several zombies. Two escaped his attack and rushed up on him at the same time.

They were moving too fast. Xiao Yan watches from the craft, his skin soaked in a cold sweat.

Almost instantaneously, the tip of his blade pierces their brains and Heine once again reminded Xiao of his near divine reflexes.

Heine returned to the c.o.c.kpit. His palm landed on Xiao's shoulder. He lowered his head close to his ear. "Did you record it all?"

His low voice seemed full of extremes and Xiao swallowed thickly. "Yes Colonel."

"Hm."

Considering the previous reports, it is important to a.n.a.lyze the attack patterns of these variant zombies.

"They have not yet reached human level intelligence. " Xiao sifts through the display images of the battle scene and plays it back frame by frame. Although their attacks were more organized, they were too similar to those used at the base. Xiao Yan suspects they were trained in limited attack sequences before being released.

Their advanced speed is quite destructive though, even to the Special Forces.

They arrive at the Shire before at dusk.

There are only armed forces waiting for them in the hall and Xiao Yan feels inexplicably depressed.

As he exits the craft, the soldiers quickly step forward and grab Xiao's shoulders.

They are not his opponents, he easily shrugs them off.

"What are you doing?"

"Lt. we have orders to escort you to the Torture Force."

"What? Don't you think you are a little too eager to send him to the torture specialists?!" An enraged Mark steps in front of Xiao Yan.

The other special forces also showed their killing intent.

Heine Burton is held in high regard. When Xiao's x-2 saved such a legendary man, he also saved their faith and hope. Not to mention his x-2 virus changes the fate of the entire task force.

The torture force is the most despised of all the branches of the military. It is a traumatic process and many innocent soldiers have abandoned their military careers after enduring interrogation.

Heine Burton walked up to Xiao's side. "Colonel Ervel is waiting for you. He wants to discuss the zombie variants."

"Coloton Burton! We came to take Xiao Yan under the command of Major General..."

Heine looked down at a man with a gaze so cold the soldier's throat constricted and he couldn't speak another word.

The special mission troops left and the torture force stood dumbly in hall unable to move for a long time.

In fact, though, Xiao was ready to face the torture specialists. There were no secrets for him to hide, other than his extraordinary feelings for Heine.

He had not been to the Academy in a long time. He was shocked to discover who deserted it was and he saw few researchers that he recognized as he pa.s.sed through.

This is his first time reporting to General Ervel's office. Unlike the spa.r.s.e and simple furnishing of General Gordon's, this office was full of the latest technology.

Ervel sat quietly behind a wall of every changing data, the gleam from the display flickered light across his face.

"Please have a seat Colonel Burton, Xiao Yan." Ervel snapped his fingers and a long piece of t.i.tanium appears in from of Xiao Yan, merging into a table. An officer came through the door and left two cups of black tea.

"We have studies the data in the microchip you left with Colonel Burton. Due to individual physiology and viral activity, the x-2 virus must be altered as needed. These subtle differences are crucial in determining if the X-2 can replace the x-virus in their body. Because of your research's confidentiality level, only a few senior officers have been approved to enter the project. From the time of your kidnapping, by the Surge, to today we have only completed enough X-2 for Major Winn and Major Ling."

"Actually, I had an idea about that."

"What idea?" General Ervel turned his head and held his chin.

"We can quantify certain patterns for the formulations."

"That requires heavy calculations. My other researchers say that such an approach is impossible."

Xiao Yan blinked slowly in response.

Ervel narrowed his eyes. "You mean to say... that you can do it?"

"I just think that if the calculations are done... there is a lot of data to quantify... there are regularities to find and we can compare that to find similar patterns for the x-virus."

Suddenly a holographic video com appeared in front of General Ervel.

"h.e.l.lo, This is Chief Liaison Officer for General Sharif."

The man saluted on screen.

"h.e.l.lo there."

General Ervel shifted his sitting position.

"Admiral Sharif needs to talk to Colonel Burton."

"I know."

Ervel's gaze fell on Heine's through the transparent image. Heine had clearly heard, but showed no signs of getting up.

What does Admiral Sharif want with Heine?

Xiao Yan looked curiously at Heine's face, then immediately realized the futility of his actions. Getting any information from this guy's expression was impossible.

"I will take care of Xiao Yan. You don't have to worry. After all he is one of ours here at the Academy."

Heine stood and left Xiao Yan with General Ervel.

"Xiao Yan..." General Ervel took a deep breath, his tone changing slightly. "Our position here at the Academy and the Special mission force is very delicate. Our staff was decimated by the attack."

"Because of Jane Wallace, and Casey?"

"Yes. The military cannot allow anyone who might be a Surge infiltrate into the heart of our most essential forces." Ervel pulled up surveillance imaging and watched as Heine walked out of the building to meet General Sharif. He was sent to pick up his mag lev vehicle. Upon seeing this Ervel seemed satisfied and pressed a b.u.t.ton, terminating the feed.

"I know how important and capable you are to the special forces...but you cannot be an enemy of the Shire. Do you understand? You have talents that no one else has. Those talents mean that many people have placed a lot of hope for what you can do. It also means they are very afraid of what you can do."

The door to the their office slid open and the torture force dispatched an entire team into the office. All of them had guns, and they were all pointed at Xiao Yan.

"I understand, sir." Xiao's tone was even and calm.

Ervel looked at the major who led the torture force. His brows drew together in a frown. Ervel, who was always known for his calm and refined temperament, suddenly revealed an angered expression.

"It seems that the Major does not have the ability to properly lead his subordinates. Why are you showing you weapons? Do you plan to shoot me?"

"No...Please don't misunderstand! Xiao Yan's dangerou—"

"That is Lt. Xiao Yan! And he doesn't pose a danger. I have put my trust and pride in your hands because of your duties. However...If there is any accident involving the Torture Force...if Xiao Yan is hurt...no matter intentionally or not....The entire force will pay."

Under the stern words of Ervel, they put away their guns.

Xiao Yan left with the Torture Force.

As he was escorted out of the Academy, he heard the researchers cease their studies to watch him and murmur amongst themselves.

"That's Xiao Yan! Isn't he the one who synthesized the x2?"

"I heard that he developed the degrading agent for the Surge's biochemical weapons."

"But why is he only a Lt.?"

"They wanted to hide him from the Surge!"

"Oh G.o.d, it's the Torture Force! Are all the researchers to be persecuted?"

Xiao Yan calmed his mind and steeled his himself.

This doesn't matter. There is nothing to fear. His position has not changed. Valentin's lies of immortality cannot seduce him to their side; there is no fear in his heart.

Operation gf.me/u/kavdtc  (I won't mention the link again, I promise) aka the go fund me endeavor appears to be a failure. I haven't taken it down yet (mainly because I don't know how, since I didn't set it up...I don't even have the login info)  So I won't be able to replace my computer in the near future. I actually kinda feel a little awkward about it now...Annnnywaaaay.... On the VERY bright side, one person did donate and that was so awesome. Maybe it is all for the best because I don't think my heart would have been able to handle more donations. It just brings tears to my eyes that someone loved the story and my work enough to take their time and money to donate. Thank you so much.

When I got to borrow the computer this time I wanted to say thank you to the Thrive's #1 fan in the only way I know. I translated as fast as I possibly could to get these out in one clump. I apologize if there are a lot of errors, I did my best.

I don't know when my next update will be, so hopefully this will hold everyone over for a bit. I have been reading everyone's comments through my phone (though it doesn't let me comment back much of the time for some reason L). Anyway, your comments make me laugh so hard and I love reading them. Thank you for the support.

---Dea********