Through Rough Times - A Zombie Apocalypse Adventure (alternate-timelines.com Edition)

"The Doomed Column" (Part 6)
Date: October 31 (Z-Day +5), 2018, 3:05am (3 hours ealier)
Location: Kidal, Mali

Delaure and his men had been fighting in the town for two days without interruption alongside Malian soldiers and MINUSMA troops. Communication was precarious, because in the general chaos, several units had lost their radios, or worse: their leaders.
Every time he closed his eyes for a moment, he saw the rabid ones throwing themselves at everything that moved. Biting, scratching, tearing. He’d seen his own men torn to pieces. At last count, 30 percent of his men were KIA. The rest were scattered throughout the city as the various units engaged in the city had lost all cohesion.
Taking refuge in the barricaded town hall, the mix of about thirty African and French soldiers was struggling to hold its position. For about ten hours, the Rafales and Mirages 2000 of Niamey had been bombing the city, sometimes guided by a Reaper drone, sometimes by Delaure.
The captain had managed to reach the Niamey base to request air support. However, no evacuation was possible and no reinforcements were expected. He had been given a detailed explanation of what was happening around the world. The virus. The ‘zombies’. The global panic.

The soldiers had run out of ammunition and water the day before. The barricades on the ground floor, which threatened to give way at any moment, were defended with knives, wooden stakes and iron bars. It was only a matter of hours or minutes, but they were doomed. Suddenly there was shouting in the building: ‘Fall back!!!! Fall back! Upstairs! Towards the roof! Fall back! “The rabiders had obviously managed to break through one of the barricades. Soldiers came running up and climbed the ladder to the roof from which Delaure was guiding the air strikes. The captain helped the soldiers and some civilians climb the ladder. In just three minutes the stream of refugees dried up, leaving dozens of rabidly infected people at the foot of the ladder.
—Grenade the bastards,” ordered Delaure. Wait for them to gather at the foot of the ladder before starting again.

Delaure approached the edge of the roof and began to empty his bladders by peeing directly on the rabid people a few metres below. Then he went back to sit by his radio and drank the last remaining sip of water from his flask. Meanwhile, every thirty seconds a grenade exploded in the swarming mass at the foot of the ladder. By radio, he contacted Niamey who confirmed that a pair of Mirages 2000 were on the way. He transmitted new strike coordinates for the pilots’ attention.

About 5 minutes later, as Delaure lay on the roof and contemplated a picture of his wife and children, the Mirages roared past the town. Moments later, their deadly cargo annihilated the town hall and everything around it. Pierre Delaure was delivered from his burden.

"The Doomed Column" (Part 8)
Date: November 3 (Z-Day +8), 2018, 5:13am
Location: somewhere near Mopti, Mali

Runberg and the fourteen men under his command had all been awake for about ten minutes when the sound of the turboprops was heard. Because of their position in the forest they could not see the aircraft. The noise stopped in a loud explosion a few kilometres to the northeast. Certainly at Mopti Ambodédjo International Airport which, despite its name, was actually in Sevaré.

While packing up their beds and canteens, the men of the Lynx group came across civilians heading towards the crash site. If the Malians found it strange to see French soldiers heading in the opposite direction, they said nothing. After driving a few kilometers on National Road Six, which they had just joined, they came across a vulture feeding on a corpse. The VABs stopped, but Runberg went down alone to take a quick look. The vulture didn't even run away as he approached, merely flapping his wings a little to try to frighten off his visitor. Runberg was close enough to see that the victim had been shot in the head, but they couldn't determine for sure if she had been infected.
Suddenly screams could be heard further down the road. Runberg returned to the VAB and at the same time Private Foraga who was in the turret signaled "Civilians approaching".
– Spread out," the lieutenant ordered.
The men got out of the VABs and deployed along the road and, as usual, the drivers and gunner remained in the VABs. Runberg took a knee down and backed up his Famas FELIN to watch what was happening on the road. He then saw a young woman with a child in her arms running in his direction being chased by three men. He switched the display mode of his FELIN scope to infrared. He then noticed that the three men, although running, had a lower heat signature than the target they were chasing. He then wondered if the "zombies" were colder than the humans. He returned to normal vision and increased the magnification to see that the pursuers were clearly "infected".
This way!" he shouted to the woman, beckoning to join them.
The young woman, regaining hope of getting out alive, began to run faster, lengthening the distance separating her from the pursuers.
– As soon as she joins our lines, shoot down the rabid pursuers," ordered Lieutenant Runberg.
– At your command," his men answered in unison.

About thirty seconds later the young woman reached the position of the French soldiers and threw herself into the arms of Runberg who welcomed her with open arms. The next moment half a dozen shots rang out, startled the young woman. Her pursuers fell to the ground as Runberg handed her a bottle of water.
– They're getting up!" shouted Delfosse.
Runberg let the young woman drink quietly and walked towards the infected with a determined step while they were walking towards him with a clumsy step. He drew his PAMAS pistol and stopped to adjust his aim. Three shots to the head and five seconds later the case was closed. He put the gun back and returned to his initial position.
– Secure your fire. Aim for the head," he ordered his men to pay attention.

The young woman was crouching and giving her son a drink while catching her breath. "Thank you sir," she said to Runberg.
– You're welcome, he said without introducing himself. Are there any others?
– Yes, maybe ten or so in the village over there," she says, pointing to the houses to the south. People arrived from Segou in the night. This morning they attacked us. We took refuge in the houses, but they managed to get through a window. I fled and saw your vehicles...
– You've done well," said Runberg.
– My husband! We must go and help him! she exclaimed.
– To the vehicles!" Runberg shouted. Prepare for battle!
He accompanied the young woman and installed her in the VAB with her son. He took off his helmet and strapped it on the mother's head.
– It's pretty shaky in there, you might bang your head," he explained.
The Malian woman smiled tenderly at him. He grabbed his radio: "Foraga, I'm taking the turret".

A few minutes later, the two VABs of the Lynx group were at the entrance of the village called "Pérempé".

"The Doomed Column" (Part 10)
Date: November 3 (Z-Day +8), 2018, 4:53pm
Location: Ségou, Mali

On the road from Pérempé they had come across cars, carriages and mopeds all loaded with anxious-looking passengers heading north. How many of them were infected? How would they be received in Pérempé after this morning’s incident?

Runberg went headfirst through the hatch on the roof of the VAB and saw the plumes of smoke rising from Ségou a few kilometres away. He ordered a halt and got out of the VAB, the men took the opportunity to stretch their legs. The lieutenant consulted his GPS and then the paper map. Ségou was a large city, with a population of at least 100,000. That’s a lot of potential infectees. A track passed south of the town between less populated villages and allowed to reach National Road 6 without having to cross the town. He explained his choice to Majors Bec and Marazano, then summoned the drivers of the VABs to show them the way.
—You avoid going between houses. Slalom between small groups of houses. Bec, Marazano, I want you at the hatches to confirm targets for the turrets.
—My lieutenant? Asked Bec surprised.
—We don’t have a chance of saving this town on our own, but if any groups are heading our way, make sure they’re infected and then blast them out. This will always be a win-win for the locals. Short bursts, save the ammo. We’re gonna need them sooner or later.

Runberg had put his earplugs on and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to lead this manoeuvre. For nearly an hour, the VABs had thundered their machine guns on the chaotic road south of Ségou, not stopping, even when civilians waved at them. The Lynx group could not save this town.
As the sun began to set, the VABs reached National Road 6 at a point where it ran along the Niger River. The village on the bank and the agricultural facilities had no name on the map or GPS. Runberg did not hear the first ricochet, but Marazano pulled him out of his torpor.
—We’re being shot at, he says.
—Where is it coming from?’ asked Runberg, while the gunners were already retaliating.
—There’s a hangar 150 metres away.
—We stop and neutralize the threat,’ Runberg shouted on the radio.
As the VAB came to an abrupt halt, the men poured out, ready for battle.
—Cease fire,’ ordered Runberg to the gunners in the VABs.
No more shots from the hangar. Marazano and Bec’s teams leapt forward, 50 metres by 50 metres, to the target building. Inside, two Malian youths armed with AK-74s had been ripped to pieces. One of the assault rifles had even been cut in half by an M2HB bullet. The shooters were not wearing uniforms and did not appear to belong to a militia, so why had he fired at the VABs?
Suddenly the radio crackled ‘Movement. Hostiles approaching.’
—Infected or gunmen?’ Runberg asked on his radio.
—Infected.
12.7-caliber bullets began to whistle around the building.
—We’re retreating to the VABs,’ Runberg ordered.
When the soldiers exited the building, the VAB gunners stopped firing so as not to risk injuring their comrades. Two targets coming from the left side of the building were quickly shot down and the soldiers ran towards the road.
After about 50 metres, Marazano’s group knelt down to cover Bec and Runberg’s group. Three new targets were shot down. The two groups took turns covering each other until they reached the VABs. Eleven infected were shot down in the manoeuvre.
The soldiers re-embarked in the armoured vehicles and Runberg, despondent, ordered them to set off again immediately.

"The Doomed Column" (Part 12)
Date: November 4 (Z-Day +9), 2018, 1:13 am
Location: Bamako Airport, Mali

They made it! They made it to the airport, but at what cost?!

Entry into the eastern suburbs had been relatively easy for the first 10 kilometres. The VABs had passed two roadblocks caused by cars that had caught fire in the fighting. The 12.7 and FAMAS rounds drew the infected towards them, giving relief to civilians trapped in some buildings. They then fled to other, safer positions or tried to catch up with the VABs before realizing that they would not stop.

The first objective of the Lynx group was to reach the police station located near March 26 Stadium. To reach it they had to cross a small portion of hell, because the National Road was cut off for a kilometre by a huge fire emanating from two gas stations. The French soldiers had locked themselves as hermetically as possible in the vehicles which, after backing up to gain momentum, had crossed the huge fire at nearly 100 km/h in a little less than 40 seconds. The hulls of the tanks had barely had time to warm up, but as they emerged from the flames, the French could see that they were being followed by the burning infecteds. Runberg had ordered them to be shot down to prevent them from spreading the fire any faster. After making their way through a group of vehicles abandoned on the road, the Lynx group was finally in sight of the police station.

The parking lot was overrun with infectious. Policemen and gendarmes had been taken by surprise and had had to retreat to the main building with a few civilians. In the courtyard, two BRDM-2s were abandoned among the other cars. The VABs entered the parking lot and ran over a pair of infected people. Bec’s group deployed lightning fast to close the gate before returning to the armoured vehicle cover. Then the French soldiers methodically eliminated the infected from their turrets and hatches. Twelve minutes later, the yard was secured and the men of the Lynx group disembarked safely. After thanking their rescuers, the Malians piled up weapons, ammunition and food in the BRDM-2s and the robust civilian vehicles for nearly 45 minutes. When it was over, the French soldiers supported by the VABs secured the exit for the column of vehicles that would attempt to reach the airport. As gunfire rang out around him Runberg was busy closing the gate, suddenly a series of shots slammed into the air next to him and an infected man collapsed in mid-course and came to rest at his feet. He turned around to see that it was Bec who had just saved his life. Two minutes later, the VABs got back on the road and passed by the stadium which seemed deserted, Runberg thought he was a cliché seen and seen again and again in epidemic or zombie movies where the authorities often hid in a stadium and where the situation always turned into a fiasco.

Two kilometres further on, they came face to face with one of the vehicles of the convoy that had left the police station. The burning vehicle had crashed into the front window of a pharmacy, the trunk was shaken by small secondary explosions due to the ammunition explosion crackling in the trunk. The intensity of the flames made it impossible to see whether or not the occupants of the vehicle had managed to escape. For the next three kilometres they drove past several official buildings that appeared to be abandoned, such as the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Suddenly, a group of civilians chased by several dozen infected people emerged from an alley next to a restaurant. It was impossible for the French soldiers to have a completely clear line of fire. The civilians then tried to climb on the armoured vehicles that were moving at a walking pace. The gunners at the hatches were struggling to prevent the infected from clinging to the vehicles. Only five people managed to climb on the speeding VABs. Thirty metres later, a woman came out of another alleyway, followed very closely, too closely, by a handful of infected people. She tried to reach the lead VAB, where Runberg had taken up position at a hatchway beside Ben Hamar. As she grabbed the hull of the vehicle, she was girdled by three rabid individuals and had just enough time to throw a bundle into the arms of Ben Hamar before falling onto the road with the infected. It happened so fast that the second VAB had no time to react and ran over the infected and their last victim. Ben Hamar soon realized why the woman had thrown the bundle at the risk of her own life, because it was screaming and moving. It wasn’t a bundle, but a baby only a few weeks old wrapped in cloths. ‘Holy shit! “Runberg said when he realized what had just happened. He ordered Ben Hamar relieved of his position to take care of the child.

A few dozen seconds later, the VAB was smashing vehicles to make its way through the roundabout in the centre of which stood the 46-metre-high Tour d’Afrique, which resembled a baobab tree. Runberg noticed that French, Malian and MINUSMA troops were emptying the custom warehouses and emptying the fuel pumps at the station across the road. The areas were secured by VBLs, VABs, BMPs and MRAPs as well as troops on the ground. A colonel, Mensard, came to meet the Lynx group and asked Runberg to place his VABs north of the perimeter to cover the road and the roundabout. African and French soldiers spent the next three hours killing infected people. When the column finally set off, two tankers and five semi-trailers escorted by a dozen armoured vehicles were on their way to Bamako airport. Runberg’s VABs closed the march.

The next few kilometres were more peaceful, as the density of housing decreased as they approached the airport. The column passed in front of the MINUSMA base, a fortress standing to the north of the airport. In his binoculars, Runberg noted that new fences reinforced with concrete guardrails and trenches provided the junction between the perimeter of the MINUSMA base and that of the airport. As the convoy moved along the northern fence of the airport, Runberg could see that trenches had been dug in front of the fences to prevent vehicles from driving over them and also to slow down the infected. In addition, cars had been pushed onto the roadside to provide some protection to the north side of the road. Tires had been meticulously slashed to prevent someone from moving the vehicles too easily. Shots were fired here and there, infected people were run over from time to time and finally the convoy slowed down and turned 90° south to enter the airlock. On the left flank of the convoy was a mosque, the top of the minaret hosted French gunmen. One was equipped with FRF2 marksman rifles, the other with a FAMAS and an AT-4. As the infected were very few in number, the vehicles were able to enter the perimeter covered by Malian soldiers who, with rifles slung across their shoulders, used steel spikes to eliminate the few infected who approached the gate. General Lafont-Rapnouil and all the men under his command had apparently managed a small miracle here.

Runberg and his men spent the next hour eating and resting near their VABs after Ben Hamar handed over the castaway child to the staff of the field hospital set up in the airport terminal. Then an officer came to pick up Runberg to report to the general. The lieutenant detailed their journey from Abéïbara to Bamako and was congratulated for having managed to bring all his men back alive; explaining to him that other columns had been less fortunate. The column that had left Gao had reached the airport three and a half days earlier, but had lost two tanks, three trucks and about twenty people along the way. Finally, the column that had left Tessalit without waiting for the Lynx group had disappeared body and soul in the suburb south of town three days ago. The Lynx group had managed to cover almost 2000 kilometres without losing a man and had even helped to save a few lives. The Lafont-Rapnouil’s plan was simple: launch supply raids in the vicinity, hold the perimeter and eliminate the infected whose waves would break over the airport like waves over rocks. If all went according to plan, the bulk of the threat would be eliminated in a matter of weeks. Runberg thought of his inner reaction when he arrived at the Tessalit FOB and found that their brothers-in-arms had abandoned them ‘Doom on you’ he had thought at the time. And fate had caught up with the Tessalit column.

The end.

Chapter 85: Aloha
And now back to the main storyline.
October 26, 2018 (Z-Day +9)
USS Makin Island (LHD-8)
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Honolulu, Hawaii

We all could not believe it. Five days on a floating tin can and finally we are here in Hawaii. Or about to arrive in that case. Standing on the flight deck as we were all invite in by the captain and the XO, we could see the ships from the fleet enter Pearl Harbor. It gave me chills, knowing this was the site of the Japanese attack the led to America's entry in World War II. The Makin Island passed by the USS Missouri - aka the Mighty Mo - one of the Iowa-class battleships that served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Persian Gulf War. It awed us seeing a big battleship right next to us. She was featured in the action film Under Siege, the RTS game World In Conflict (my favorite PC game btw), and the film Battleship I saw way back in Summer 2012. She stood there idly, guarding the entrance to the bay. Though obsolete in today's standards, the presence of a battleship is still awesome to look at.

"I can't believe it. We're here in Hawaii." Gabrielle said.

"Yeah, but not for vacation." Mike added the harsh truth.

"We'll enjoy what we can." Spencer said.

A few minutes later, the ship docked. Everyone was escorted down for processing. Spencer was right, even thought we are not here on vacation, we must enjoy the little things. Just like what the movie Zombieland said. It was definitely better than staying in a cramped ship. My group and I stayed near each other as we entered the processing counter set up by FEMA. Giving over some of my documents and all, the FEMA personnel asked what are my experiences and if I am traveling with a group.

"Yes, these people are with me." I said. My friends then registered in the system and were given volunteer work. Mike, Spencer, Darren, and I were tasked with sanitary work, Gabrielle was tasked with how to help ration the food and supplies in the hotel for the refugees (since she's an accountant), while Angela and Tamara were tasked with helping out with the hotel's daily services. Our shift was from weekdays only until we can go back to our home countries.

Hawaii has a trade-off: being isolated means that roughly 90% of its food supply comes from the mainland. It's been a week since the outbreak and the Hawaii National Guard has ordered a systemic rationing system now that trade by cargo planes and ships has ceased. There is some cattle on the big island plus some coffee, cacao, pineapples, sugarcane, and bananas on this island chain. To make up for this, the fishing fleet around the state has all been activated to feed some 2,000 additional refugees that are spread throughout the islands.

Yes, our stay here would not be so pleasant but still better than in the CONUS.

The FEMA personnel assigned us to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in front of Waikiki Beach. It is directly in front of the Pacific Ocean. That is what is got us all excited.

"Wait, can you guys locate my parents?" Gabrielle asked the FEMA personnel.

"Ma'am, can you provide their names? I'm sorry but we've processed a lot of people many coming from other countries. Head to the board over there with all the names of the people there."

Disappointed, she then went over the board full of names. "Come with me guys." She said. We followed her. The board full of names was undeniably long. There were a lot of people too, just like us.

It took over 30 minutes before she said she found the names of her parents. And to our convenience, they happened to be at the same hotel as us! What a stroke of luck!

"What a stroke of luck!" I shouted. "Come on guys, let's go. Let's bring her back to her family."

We then rode the bus on the way to that hotel in Waikiki Beach.

Chapter 87: Our New Home
October 26, 2018 (Z-Day+9)
Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu, Hawaii


We unloaded the bus with whatever luggage we had into this fancy looking hotel that was converted into a temporary refugee camp for those 2,500+ that evacuated from California on the orders of FEMA. The hotel had a ton of security from Marines to Army National Guard to police officers from the Honolulu Police Department. We were told to line up in a single file as we were once again screened by dogs and having our blood tested which turned out as negative. They were not making any chances of anyone hiding the infection. Unfortunately, we were separated from the survivors we linked with from San Diego. We bid them goodbye and hope to maintain contact.

Francis and Jules reported for duty immediately to secure the hotel since they were personnel who had armed experience. These were necessary additions to the overstretched security forces securing the entirety of Honolulu. Those who could not be accommodated in the city where spread out among FEMA refugee camps placed north of Oahu or other islands.

Gabrielle asked the desk and showed the information. Moments later, she got a wind that her parents were two floors higher than our room.

"I can't wait to see them." She said.

Afterwards, we presented our assigned documents along with our assigned quarters. We were then led towards the higher floors.

"I'd be damned if we got a suite." Mike said.

The room we got was a big, not a suite but big enough to fit roughly six or eight of us. The room faced the beautiful view of Waikiki Beach. Too bad we could not swim. The beaches were close to prevent congregation or seaward Infected washing up ashore.

"Speak of the devil." I said.

We were told to rest up and report for our shifts tonight. As we got put down our bags, we could not help but think how lucky we got this place. Was it random or was FEMA's assignment based on how many people are per group? I don't know really. I wouldn't complain though. Not everyone has this luxury. For sure some got suites. The others were already lying down on their beds or about to go to nap.

"Think of it as a vacation." Spencer said.

"Yeah, but not my kind of vacation." Mike replied.

Grabbing the remote of the TV, I turned on to see that most stations have gone off the air. The EAS logo was plastered on the screen.


That's the same EAS alert that went off last January." Angela said. "Do you guys remember the false alarm when the Hawaii state government thought North Korea fired a missile towards the islands?"

"Fuck, I remember." I said.

"Oh shit, same here. It was crazy." Spencer said.

"No shit, as if the 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm came back with a vengeance." I replied.

"I remember too. I was still college that time. I was in Plus 63 Music Festival that day. I was watching Showtek with my friends when he performed in Cebu that night."

"Partying while the world burns, seems to be a running gag this year." I jokingly replied.

"Well, still no TV guys. Not sure about WiFi here."

"WiFi is present but can't connect either." Spencer said.

"Gabby, let's get you to your family." I said. She nodded. "Let's go with her guys."

We then went filed out of the room to two floors higher where we were told they were in.
********************
We found the room they were in and rang the doorbell.

Then the door opened with a man in his 50s looking at us.

"May I help you?"

"Um, sir we brought your daughter with you."

"Gabrielle?!, where is she?"

"I'm here dad!" Gabrielle said, rushing to her father to embrace him. Her mother followed suit and they all went insude the room. All three broke down in tears as they hugged and embraced each other. Another group of people were there, presumably her cousins or relatives.

"Gabrielle, I'm so glad you're safe. I knew it you could make it!" Her mother replied. She knew her boyfriend was among those killed in the early stages of the outbreak during their brief phone call as they were luckily able to be accepted aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard as San Francisco descended into chaos.

For the rest of us, we felt happy for them knowing that she made it here safely with her family. Good for her. I thought. Mike, Spencer, and the rest still don't know what happened to our families across the globe. The rest of our friends from San Diego seemed to have accepted their family didn't make it. As for Angela, well I could see that she was somehow envious at Gabrielle who's family is more or less safe. Of course, she too was happy for her. Inside I felt good too since we completed Charles' dying wish that his girlfriend would make it safely here. He can be at peace now. I said to myself. It reminded me of the entire ordeal of the anime Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 where two siblings must traverse the entire Tokyo Bay Area to go back home after a devastating earthquake on the Japanese capital.

"What about Alexandria?" Gabrielle asked.

"No news. We can only hope." Her father said, trying to fight his tears. "We heard over independent radio stations that the infection reached the Philippines on the third day of the outbreak. I wish I could use a long-distance phone call but the lines are down as they are to be reserved for official use only. Your mother and I pray that she is safe."

She was then approached by her immediate relatives who embraced and consoled her. For a while, it seemed that she forgotten about us as the door stood open and we just stood there watching them.

"Oh I'm sorry, if you need privacy, we'll return back to our room." I said to her father.

Her parents then approached us.

"Thank you...thank you so much for bringing our daughter back. I...We can't thank you guys enough. If there's anything we can do for you guys, just say it."

"It's nothing. It's what friends are for." I said.

"Come back later tonight for dinner. We want to hear how intense it must have been." He said.

We nodded and then returned to our rooms as her father close the door behind us.

"I'm glad she's back with her family." Angela said, trying to keep herself from crying. "...and I hope her younger sister is alright."
********************************
His daughter was finally here with them, completely safe. He would never ever want to be separate from her again. That leaves one weight off the shoulder but there was still the status of his other daughter on the other side of the globe. They have not heard from her ever since and they could only pray she made it safely.

The whole time Gabrielle was reunited with her mother and father as well as some of her immediate relatives, they spent the whole time talking about their experiences escaping San Francisco in the north and southern California respectively. Gabrielle told everything: how her boyfriend attempted to drive her north to San Francisco only to get bitten, how she of all time and places bumped with a distant friend from college that accompanied her to escape, their near-death experience in LAX, the time in Huntington Beach, the death of Angela's family, the evacuation, the part where her college friend got shot, and finally their five days at sea aboard the USS Makin Island. Her parents and her relatives were awed. It sounded like a plot for a movie or a TV series.

"Even stranger. One of the survivors in our group is a reservist in the French Army who on holiday and was caught up on the outbreak. His story is more interesting and tragic to some extent." Gabrielle said.

"Why?" Her father asked.

"He was with his friend named Dylan who was a member of the French Air Force. They were visiting some French foreign students over at CALTECH when it began. Dylan and Jules were caught in the middle and Dylan was killed by a horde. That's what Jules told me." Gabrielle then told of LAX where it was the time she would have been killed by a horde too if not for the intervention of some remnant LAPD who drove a SWAT van.

"He's still trying to reach home and report to duty for his country."

"But Hawaii is a long way from France." A relative said.

"Yes, he will indeed circle the globe to get back to France. Maybe he will stop by at French Polynesia or New Caledonia along the long way home." Gabrielle said. "If ever he makes it back to his country, his story will be more worthy and interesting and even peculiar one must say."

"How did you guys escape San Francisco by the way?" Gabrielle asked.

"It was madness my dear. We were just one of the lucky ones." Her father said, memory still fresh from their chaotic escape up north.
**********************************
9 days ago
Date: October 17, 2018 (Z-Day)
Location: San Francisco, California

Her uncle pumped the gas of the car as they headed towards where Fleet Week SF was held. Their was a chaotic evacuation of the Bay Area. Compared to what is going on down south, this was much worse. San Francisco was hit badly when the Killer Pandemic popped out almost everywhere. Here, the city descended into chaos quickly. First it was reported in the Mission District[1] before spreading to other districts. Then it spread to Oakland, San Bruno, San Jose, and many other cities within the Bay Area. The police and California National Guard deployed within the area was overstretched. Orders were given to shoot Infected and carriers in the head. However, for every Infected killed, two more would take its place with the ratio how things are going to hell.

The car swerved trying to avoid an SUV counterflowing in their lane. One car that sped up the intersection was hit by truck, turning it over and making beyond repair. Everywhere people ran and looted. Some had nowhere to go, just letting their panic guide them. Shots rang out as police gunned down several Infected and looters that had weapons.

"We have to get out of here." Said one of the relatives.

"My daughter, she's in Los Angeles with her boyfriend." The mother said. "She hasn't called me back." Indeed, she tried several times to call Gabrielle's cellphone but there was no answer. The lack of signal due to all the panic calls happening at the same time did not help things at all.

"We can't wait any longer. I heard rumors that the military might bomb the city as this disease spreads."

"We can't leave her behind. She's does not even know her way in Los Angeles."

All the pleas fell to deaf ears as the car headed to a road leading towards the Fleet Week. The U.S. Navy was surprisingly accepting refugees to board their ships and other commercial liners, providing one of them was not Infected. There was a large crowd of people waiting to be ushered in line. These occured as more gunshots and explosions are heard in the background. The line was long but they made it. They were scanned and cleared of Infection as they boarded the USS Bonhomme Richard.

"Where is this ship headed sir?" Asked a random refugee. Gabrielle's parents overheard this.

"Hawaii. Whatever is happening has not affected that state yet."

They then entered the ship's landing dock and were processed by the Marines. There she got signal and called her daughter. This time, Gabrielle picked up. Her mother let out a sigh of relief.

"Mom! Mom! I'm safe."
"Gabrielle, don't come to San Francisco. It's too far and too dangerous. Luckily, we were able to evacuate to the USS Bonhomme Richard. We're enroute to Hawaii now. I heard the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard, and the Merchant Marine are evacuating Southern California to Hawaii." There was a lot of sobbing on the other line.
"Anak, are you alone Is Charles with you?" Her mom asked.
"He...He got Infected...and had to be put down. I'm safe thanks to accidentally bumping into a friend from mountaineering before and his friend. We are armed to protect ourselves from the Infected. His best friend is trying to drive down to San Diego. We're in downtown Los Angeles now specifically in Santa Monica Boulevard. Traffic is bad but I really hope I can make it."
"Your father and I are worried about you Gabrielle. Even your younger sister is worried about us being here in the States while she is back in Bohol. Please, I pray to God you will make it to San Diego safely."
"I really do, mom. I hope to see you soon. I gotta save power now. Bye and love you."

"Stay safe Gabrielle, we are praying for you." That was the last time they'd be able to communicate as the lines went down.

"She's safe. Met a friend that is accompanying her to San Diego." She said to her husband who comforted her as they both cried and prayed that their daughter will make it through. Distance was not their ally for sure.

Outside, the chaotic evacuation of the bay continued. The Golden Gate Bridge was filled with cars and some parts were burning. Those who didn't want to get torn apart chose to jump to their deaths at the freezing waters of the bay. Two container ships collied and sunk, killing at least 1,537 people. The Coast Guard and the Navy could not rescue all of them. Some ships were set ablaze as it was shown to have infected on the deck. The Navy had no qualms in sinking them.

Exiting the bay, the Bonhomme Richard cruised towards Hawaii at flank speed. San Francisco was gone. No hearts would be left there except for some survivors that managed to hold out until the reclamation.
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"It must have been bad, father. I'm glad you made." Gabrielle said.

"You too, my daughter. Your mother and I can never forgive ourselves for being away at this time of crisis."

They all embraced once more. Life is indeed a blessing.
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Author's Notes:
[1] Resident Evil: Extinction (novel) reference by Keith R.A. DeCandido. In his "Before" Chapter, the ground zero of the Global T-Virus outbreak started in Mission District of San Francisco after an Umbrella scientist reanimated there from having a T-virus sample enter an open wound.

Finally, Gabrielle has been reunited with her mom and dad, but her young sister's status in the Philippines is still in the question. However, at least the survivors finally brought her to parents, removing a large part of worry. Stay tuned to find out more and how our survivors will live as refugees in Hawaii. So it will be real slow.