A Specific Organelle

Calvin started taking out some notes while he and Raymond were discussing their objective of getting rid of the undead.

He remarked, "I've been thinking about this for a while." "There's no point in killing the zombies the way we have been doing lately."

"What do you mean?" With a growing sense of concern as Calvin's remarks raised questions about their previous efforts, Raymond inquired.

"It's true that eliminating them is still and always will be our top priority, but the last mission found something important."

"And that is?"

Calvin remarked, "You saw how the zombies were gathering inside the buildings."

Raymond retorted, "I thought you said we shouldn't read too much into it." "Didn't it happen by accident?"

Until that final beast showed up, it could have been. The one I've named the Hunter was ready to ambush the chopper inside the structure.

Raymond was temporarily stunned by the blow of his remarks. It was chillingly obvious; the beast had waited for the aircraft to approach before attacking. If this were the case, it led to one disturbing conclusion.

"Can that even be done?" Raymond resisted the thought and inquired.

Calvin answered in a worried tone, "It's the only explanation." "That response indicates to me that you have already put everything together, haven't you?"

Despite his reluctance to accept it, Raymond gave a mute nod. "They're picking up knowledge from our previous interactions."

"Exactly. The streets and smaller areas were abandoned as the zombies set up shop in the most important buildings for this mission. Furthermore, if we had brought enough explosives, the Hunter would have exploded from the perfect construction. When it recognized that we were fleeing from an unusual building and that our goal was to maximize their destruction, it switched from laying a trap to the helicopter.

Raymond stopped talking as he considered the ramifications. Calvin took out some papers and laid them out on a little desk close by.

"Everything I have planned, the opportunities, our aspirations…" Calvin said, taking a moment to think. "They will master them all before we can use this method to eradicate them from the world."

"So, how do we proceed?" Raymond enquired. "Let us live like cornered rats forever and let all our efforts be in vain."

"You're not getting it. Even if a master plan is challenged, it still has value. The objective is still to get rid of them, but different strategies will be required.

"What do you say? Without the tactics that seldom worked, how can we eliminate them all? What distinguishes these new plans from the ones you have already created?

Calvin clarified, "I've noticed these creatures operate under a simple hierarchy." "A chain of command, if I may be exact. I don't think I need to mention that the two animals we've vanquished are part of the top tier. You've witnessed it: every time we eliminate one, a domino effect occurs. I examined the residues from each out of curiosity and discovered that their genetic compositions were different.

"Differs how?"

"What you may term a nucleus is present in every virus cell, and it was the same in every sample I looked at. However, these animals differ from the majority of known organisms in that they have something similar to neurotransmitters. They appear to converse with each other through these.

Raymond remarked, "That simply indicates that they are more intelligent than we believe." "What is so amazing about that?"

"When we look at the samples from the Crusher and the Hunter, it becomes remarkable."

Calvin pointed to several papers with viral cell diagrams that he had already set out. The ones he emphasized were bigger and more complex.

"They own these," he declared. They appear to be more sophisticated and sophisticated at first glance. These cells possess a particular organelle, a structural element that functions as a satellite for those transmitters; I'm not sure if that's because of their origin or evolution.

"A satellite?" Perplexed, Raymond inquired.

Indeed. I'm certain that this organelle identifies them as zombie commanders after doing a number of tests on these samples. The others are able to communicate and receive commands through these creatures. It could possibly help to explain what we witnessed on our first assignment at the Sakura Central Mall.

"You mean the zombies that aren't active? When we got there, they were strangely inert, but isn't that a stretch?

"Raymond, there is no such thing as overthinking this," Calvin shot back. "They might have shut down because they weren't needed, acting like zombies without orders."

I don't think I can convince you otherwise, so let's go on. Why is this important?

"Why? It's unbelievable that you still don't understand it.

"Stop playing with me and just say it," Raymond angrily yelled.

"After we get rid of these leaders, you've seen how the zombies disappear. They have so complete power over their subordinates that they disintegrate when they pass away. In other words, we must find the remaining commanders in order to rid this globe of the menace.

"So, you intend for us to hunt these animals?" Raymond enquired. "How? We have no idea if there are any more.

As I mentioned earlier, they depend on transmitters. At least one of these things will exist as long as zombies exist.

One question was answered by his response, but other mysteries were created. What shapes could these creatures adopt? What abilities did they possess? For what reason did they exist? Were they really going to beat them all? Above all, given that they had repeatedly ambushed them, how could they trace them?

“Hey, you,” exclaimed Calvin, startling Raymond out of his daydream. "Pay attention for a second. Today, I need all of your focus.

"I am focused," Raymond said, forcing his racing mind to pay close attention.

"All right. Let's talk about our next mission first. We'll add two scout teams to broaden our horizons. I'll accompany another group to the hospital in the south to—" You'll lead some troops to recon the countryside beyond the eastern edge."

"What are you discussing?" Bewildered, Raymond interrupted. "You just stated that we must pursue these adversaries, and now it's all about growth?"

"Exactly," Calvin said. "As you remember, this is about rescuing humanity, but I was describing a change in our approach. We have to put our safety first in order to accomplish that. I'm going to the hospital with a crew because we have sick folks who require medication.

"I understand, but you haven't mentioned how you plan to locate these animals."

We need a strategic vantage point to scout the country more thoroughly for that. You're taking men to the country for that reason. Compared to the main city roads, which are probably overrun with zombies and highly guarded by now, it provides more options for exploration.

"And how are you going to find these 'commanders'?" In an attempt to make his argument clear, Raymond pressed.

"At this point, you shouldn't be concerned about it. In an attempt to allay Raymond's worries, he boasted with unusual flair, "After all, I'm Calvin, the genius scientist."

Raymond gave in, feeling that the discussion had reached a dead end. "What time does this operation begin?"

According to Calvin, "in four days." "Get your dependable soldiers together. Since this will be your first mission without my assistance, watch how you behave. You will be on your own if your metamorphosis causes them to feel uneasy in any way.

Raymond stopped talking. Although Calvin had been there in times of need to keep the peace within the group, he didn't feel unduly stressed because this was only a scouting assignment.

Before Raymond left to choose his squad, they worked out operational matters for a few more minutes. It wasn't a difficult task; in a matter of minutes, he had assembled everyone who could help him and briefed them on the mission.

"And you don't think I'll come?" As Raymond was finishing, a voice interrupted. Leopold, who had been listening in from the corner of the hallway, was there when he turned.

"What led you to believe that you would be included?" Raymond fired back, enraged.

Leopold approached with a low, poisonous murmur that only Raymond could hear. "Look, after that last operation, you know what I think of you. I'll be observing everything you do from now on. I'll take you down the moment you make even the slightest mistake. Do you understand?

Raymond gave in and added Leopold to the team because he didn't want to cause any trouble there. His group was ready, and the day of the mission came.