The NEXT Apocalypse (Book 3): AFTER Life: Paradise Read online

  AFTER Life

  Paradise

  Robert Chazz Chute

  Praise for Robert’s Work

  Chute sucks you in from word one and pulls you down his post apocalyptic rabbit hole! You will sleep with the lights on, covers pulled over your head and dust off the old teddy bear for comfort. Horrifically well written and engaging. There are other popular books in this genre, but after reading this there is nothing else that climbs to the heights of Chute's caliber. Chazz ranks among the top tier of our generation's storytellers. ~ Alex Kimmell, Author of The Key to Everything

  Robert Chazz Chute is such a skilled spinner of tales that the reader is more than willing to suspend any possible disbelief to go along for the ride. ~ David Pandolfe, author of Jump When Ready

  It's not very often one finds a writer with such a dark side that has such a great sense of humor. ~ Glenn Roberts, Amazon reviewer

  The author has a definite talent with words and ideas. ~ Love to Read!, Amazon reviewer

  His words lift and dance off the page, bringing the story to life. ~ Kindle Customer, Amazon reviewer

  The world building is horrifically well done with twists and turns and deceit around every corner. ~ Wanda, Amazon reviewer

  RCC blends characters' beliefs & worries concerning society's failures, plus vivid action scenes skillfully. ~ RMerkl, Amazon Reviewer

  Nothing but sheer exhaustion could tear my eyes from the captivating dance of words choreographed by Robert Chazz Chute. ~ Halph Staph, Amazon reviewer

  Wonderful action constantly holds your interest. ~ Sharon Finn, Amazon reviewer

  The complexity and attention to detail throughout absolutely blow me away. ~ Kindle customer, Amazon Reviewer

  Very few authors impress me with their actual writing style, it's usually always about the story. But this author paints such beautiful vivid pictures with words that I found myself not only enjoying the story but enjoying the way the words created images in my mind. I know that sounds corny, but it is true. ~ B.H., Amazon reviewer

  Chute gives us story worthy of Stephen King. A read both thoughtful and fun. ~ Linda Beer Johnson, Amazon reviewer

  The author does an excellent job building the characters and getting you invested and involved. ~ Michele L. Hebert, Amazon reviewer

  I just can't say in words what a powerful author this is! ~ Delinda L. Calkins, Amazon reviewer

  Robert Chazz Chute writes so skillfully as to make the supernatural seem perfectly logical - and terrifying! There are twists, turns and surprises galore. You will be glad you bought this book - until you lose sleep because you can't put it down. ~ johligo, Amazon reviewer

  When I want to read apocalyptic books or zombie stories, those books have to also be extremely well-written and something that I could recommend with zeal and confidence to everyone I know. Robert Chazz Chute's books are exactly that. ~ Mazie Lane, Amazon reviewer

  He makes the stuff that is obviously fiction, believable. ~ W. Nickels, Amazon reviewer

  I am a lover of paranormal, dystopian novels and depth of story as well as intelligence in writing style, and Robert has it all. Humor, wit, depth, intelligence and an awesome way with words/writing. ~ Amazon Customer, Amazon reviewer

  AFTER Life

  Paradise

  Book Three

  The NEXT Apocalypse Series

  Copyright © 2018 by Robert Chazz Chute

  ISBN (ebook) 978-1-927607-51-0

  ISBN (paperback) 978-1-927607-50-3

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Please address media and rights inquiries and reader correspondence to: [email protected].

  Special thanks to Gari Strawn for her amazing editorial services at strawnediting.com.

  Cover design by Rocking Book Covers

  You may also enjoy

  This Plague of Days, Omnibus Edition

  and

  Robot Planet, The Complete Series,

  available in ebook and paperback.

  Book One of this series is AFTER Life, INFERNO.

  Book Two is AFTER Life, Purgatory.

  All these books are available on Amazon.

  You will find a link to the AFTERword

  and a full listing of books by this author at the end of this book.

  Contents

  Welcome to Book Three of AFTER Life

  RECAP of Books One and Two

  EPISODE 1

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  EPISODE 2

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  EPISODE 3

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  EPISODE 4

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  EPISODE 5

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  EPISODE 6

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  EPISODE 7

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Author’s Note

  Also by this Author

  About the Author

  Welcome to Book Three of AFTER Life

  and the conclusion of The Next Apocalypse Trilogy.

  P A R A D I S E

  RECAP of Books One and Two

  In AFTER Life, Inferno, Emergency Task Force officer Daniel Harmon’s mission was to secure the Box, a bio-weapons research laboratory suffering a security breach. His mission failed. Then came the brain parasite outbreak and the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.

  In AFTER Life, Purgatory, Daniel joins the rampaging horde of zombies bringing down Toronto’s populace. Waves of first-generation AI have learned from the brain parasites that their only purpose is to attack, kill, eat, reproduce and survive.

  Captured and set to be an experimental subject, Daniel is infected with the next generation of nanotech. He is the first human to be injected with a new biomimetic cyber stem cell. The Artificial Intelligence is learning from Daniel and enhancing him. Unfortunately, he’s still a zombie.

  Our only hope to stop the apocalypse is Dr. Chloe Robinson. Her nanotech was perverted to
become the bio-weapon called Picasso. Under the looming threat of a nuclear strike, Dr. Robinson and a team of first responders are trapped in the Echidna Laboratory bunker.

  Now our future is in the hands of Chloe, the genius who created AFTER, and Daniel, the zombie who is programmed to kill her.

  EPISODE 1

  AFTER (acronym)

  Artificial Facilitation Therapy for Enhanced Response, a biomimetic stem cell nanotechnology with numerous health and wellness applications. The term was first coined by Chloe T. Robinson, PhD, a biomedical engineer at the University of Toronto, in 2013.

  ~ Notes from NEXT

  Chapter 1

  Rock the mind and

  mind the rocks.

  The journey to dawn

  must be taken at night.

  Resist and persist.

  Extend your sight.

  Reach back with an open hand.

  Help the others climb from the flood.

  This is your gift.

  We’ve had quite enough of fists

  and more than our fair share of blood.

  CHLOE

  As we debated how to escape the bowels of Echidna Biosystems, the missile that would destroy downtown Toronto was already on its way.

  “Are you sure you can’t fix the epidemic from down here?” Crenshaw asked. “There’s a million cannibals on the streets, Doctor.” The ETF sniper used the word doctor as if he had maggots tucked between his cheek and gum like a cancerous wad of tobacco.

  Daniel Harmon had just tried to kill me. I was flustered but I stood my ground and tried to put the bass of authority in my voice. “You’re afraid to go back up, I know — ”

  “People died to get you to Level 4, a lot of people. Was this bunker just a pit stop?”

  So much for commanding respect. I took a deep breath, slowing my speech, trying to give Crenshaw time to slow down and calm down, too. “I’ve got all I can use from the vault. We’ve got the tissue samples from the dead. We’ve got Daniel Harmon back, alive and infected. We need those clues to figure out what to do about the plague but I can’t analyze the data effectively down here. Wishing doesn’t make things nice and neat. It never does.”

  “The weapon got out of this lab,” Crenshaw said. “The diaper exploded here. Clean up your mess — ”

  “I know you want an easy solution, Mr. Crenshaw. I do, too, but this isn’t a movie. The equipment is fried. We have to get to a lab with more facilities.”

  Bill Arsenault stepped between us, addressing me as if Crenshaw wasn’t there. “Got a text. The Americans offered Fort Bragg but the Prime Minister refused. With the loss of supplies and personnel, it’s not a question anymore. We are moving to a new location, more secure and with the resources you’ll need.”

  Arsenault’s tone was soothing and conciliatory but I wanted to scream. They’d brought me for my expertise on nanotech but they didn’t want any unpleasant answers. They weren’t prepared to listen unless someone else higher up approved.

  “My direction from the PMO is that we are to evac to Suffield,” Arsenault said. “They’ve handled dangerous materials research before — ”

  “Where’s that?” I asked.

  “Alberta.”

  “Do we have that kind of time?” I asked. “There’s a virology lab in Manitoba, right? I don’t know what pathogens they work with there but at least it’s closer.”

  Daniel Harmon lay on the floor where he’d been tased and handcuffed. He rolled over on one side and stared at me. He looked hungry.

  Crenshaw trained his pistol on the prisoner’s head. “I told you not to move! I swear to God I will kill you.”

  Harmon didn’t spare a glance at Crenshaw. His gaze remained fixed on me. “Suthina.”

  “What?”

  “Suthina Laboratories. That’s where they created my upgrade. Go there.”

  Arsenault crouched to get a closer look at Harmon. The taser darts were still in the man’s shoulder and the CSIS agent’s finger stayed on the taser’s trigger. “Who told you that?”

  “You won’t believe me.”

  “Maybe I won’t but I’ll listen hard.”

  “The Voice told me,” Harmon said.

  “Who?”

  “My new operating system, the AI in my head. It’s kind of like talking to an alien. Our ways are strange to it. I didn’t realize it until lately, but our ways are strange. It’s a little confusing, isn’t it? You need me to draw you a flowchart in purple crayon?”

  Crenshaw rolled his eyes. “Did it send you an email or text, Danny? What makes you so special — ”

  “Focus. Try to catch up,” Harmon said. “The zombies have the AI that talks to the Picasso brain parasites. I’ve got the evolved version. These new nanites think I’m a better conversationalist.”

  Arsenault looked to me. “Possible?”

  “Not what I designed, but with the safeties off — ”

  “Is it possible or not?” Arsenault asked. “Choose carefully. This man tried to kill you a couple of minutes ago. I’m not going to take his word for anything.”

  “I designed AFTER to behave in predictable ways. If someone wanted to play fast and loose with the progression, sure, it’s unexpected but, in theory, it’s possible.”

  Arsenault rose to his feet and handed Crenshaw the taser. “Ruin Mr. Harmon’s day if he acts up. Tell me what’s on your mind, Dr. Robinson.”

  “We don’t have to trust Harmon’s word,” I said. “Can you find out what the corporate connections are for Suthina Laboratories? Parent companies, shell corporations maybe? That sort of thing?”

  It took the CSIS agent less than a couple of minutes to find out. He didn’t need fancy spy connections. Echidna’s modem was still up and running and Arsenault had the wifi password. He asked Siri and, yes, Suthina Laboratories was a division of Bio-Echo, a subdivision of Nyx Management Group.

  “That’s it, then,” I said. “My boss messed up AFTER and Cavanaugh’s people stole it. We shouldn’t go to Suffield. We should go to wherever Suthina is and work with the thieves. Where is Suthina Laboratories, anyway?”

  “Bainbridge Island.”

  “Where?”

  “Washington.”

  “Which one?”

  “Washington State.” Arsenault tapped his phone again. “A short ferry ride to Seattle.”

  “Even farther than Suffield, though,” Crenshaw said. “A minute ago you thought going to Alberta was too far.”

  “Then I got new information and worked from that,” I said.

  Crenshaw shook his head. “We should still go to Suffield. Orders are orders and Suffield will be safer.”

  Furious, I glared at Crenshaw. “If you want safe, you’re in the wrong job. Safe was yesterday. Deal with it and get out of my way.”

  All my life, men in positions of power and seniority had told me I had to pay my dues, to wait my turn, to play the corporate game, to beg for more grants and share credit for my work. They all told me my snark and chronic case of resting bitch face wasn’t helping me advance in their world. Very soon, their world wouldn’t exist.

  I turned my back on Crenshaw and looked Arsenault in the eye. “Tell the Prime Minister that the only expert he’s got is going to Bainbridge to stop the zombie plague. Tell him I need to call the shots. I’m in charge of finding the cure. It’s not the PM and it’s not you guys. It’s me. If you want my help then let me do my thing. With Thomas dead, you’ll need a goat so, if this all goes south, you can blame me for your failure. I am not some consultant you shove to the side. Let me make the decisions from here on out or drop me off at a Walmart somewhere far away so I can stock up on food, batteries, ammunition and M&Ms. It’s going to be an ugly, gory apocalypse.”

  I thought throwing in the line about M&Ms was a nice flourish. Shelly Priyat allowed a small smile to leak out at that. However, it was Daniel Harmon who let out a belly laugh.

  “Dr. Robinson is right,” the prisoner crowed. “If you have any hope of stopping the spread of t
he disease, listen to her. Follow her or die running around in circles. This is just the start. This is just a little rain. A blood storm is on its way. Don’t piss off the only one of you who knows how to work an umbrella.”