HIVE

by Taylor, Dan

  Ken Lockhart walked up to the podium. His arms were out in front of him and he smiled politely waiting for the crowds cries to die down. He gave everyone a pleading look. Once the reporters were seated again, he spoke into the microphone, “As the General Chief of Defence has said already. We will open the floor to questions soon. I just have a few statements to make.” He didn’t need any notes. He knew what he needed to say. “This terrible tragedy.” He paused for emotional effect. “This terrible tragedy was not a natural phenomenon. This great nation’s enemies have attacked us in the worst way possible. Yes, this was caused by one individual but no one has access to something like this alone. We believe a group was involved and we are investigating into which group. Biological warfare breaks international laws. This means this is an international tragedy and the world will help us to find and destroy any groups responsible. The world mourns for those who have lost their lives including a large number of our brave police men and women and ambulance staff, and we pray for those who are infected and within the quarantine zone. Why this area was chosen for the attack is still unknown to us, but we will hunt relentlessly to find out who and why and bring them to justice. We have an emergency number which we will give out at the end of the conference. It will also be on the government website and is there for you to check on loved ones who have been rescued and to help if you have any knowledge of those responsible. We have had a team of scientists on site to help identify and cure the disease. I have also invited the world health organisation along to discuss this further. Thank you for listening and I am sure there will be some questions for me and General Holt.” He looked around for some familiar faces and pointed to one he knew. “Let’s start with you, Jack from The Gazette.”

  In a hospital bed nearby, Lydia was watching the Prime Minister’s speech on television carefully. She had not long woken up. An Army nurse had told her she had been rescued from a helicopter crash and since then had been checked and given the all clear. No broken bones just graze’s and bruises and most lucky of all she hadn’t been infected with whatever the town had been infected with. Lydia hadn’t forgotten the nightmare of the previous day but had blacked out when they crashed. In the bed next to her was Angela. She was still unconscious. Abel was nowhere to be seen.

  “Nurse, please. There was a man in the helicopter with me. His name is … Tobias Mannford.” It took a second to remember the fake name they had made up “He was piloting the helicopter. Bald with glasses. I need to know if he is ok,” she pleaded to the Army nurse.

  “I’m afraid there was no one by the name of Tobias Mannford that came here. The pilot was rescued but his wallet ID said his name is Abel Coleman,” the nurse replied.

  They were busted. They knew exactly who Abel was. How could they be so stupid as to leave his ID in his wallet. “I’m sorry. I must be a little confused from the crash. How is Abel?”

  “Sorry Dear. I cannot speak of Mr Colemans’ condition. He arrived with you and your friend,” she pointed towards Angela, “Physically he seemed ok, but has been taken away for further examination. I’m sorry to tell you he has not yet been given the all clear of this epidemic. It’s not to say that he is infected it’s just they need to perform some more test to make sure. It is the quarantine process you see. It may be nothing but as he may be infected, he has been kept separate from the general population. Just in case.”

  “And Angela. Is she ok?” asked Lydia pointing wearily to the bed net to her.

  The nurse sighed compassionately, “OK is a relative term Miss Sato. Like you she only suffered minor injuries. However, she has, understandably, not been coping with the stress of the past day. She has been through a lot and needs time to get better emotionally and mentally. It’s a miracle you three are not catatonic after what’s happened. She has been given a mild aesthetic to help her sleep. She needs rest and so do you.” The nurse turned towards the television to see the answers the Prime Minister was giving. This event was a shock to her too and she was curious about the Prime Ministers speech.

  “Fred Marsh of the Custodian. Is this the same as the Brain-Dead Madness Disease that has had outbreaks in Brazil and the Congo?” A reporter Asked.

  “A weaponised version of the same we believe. In fact, it may be that the outbreak in Brazil was a test. Our enemies preparing themselves for yesterday’s cowardly display of inhumanity.” Ken was upright in his response. He pointed to young red-haired reporter.

  “Stephanie Vale of the London Gazette. What is going to happen to the infected people trapped in Bayhollow?”

  General Holt stepped forward to answer the question. “For the infected we have fences and walls erected to keep them inside Bayhollow. This is not only to protect all of us non-infected by also to protect the infected themselves. As long as the infected are grouped together they are calmer and we don’t have to fend them off. We have patrols regularly going in and rescuing any non-infected survivors and putting them through the quarantine process. At the moment, there is no cure, but as the Prime Minister has already stated we have a top team of scientists working on a cure and we believe we are close to a breakthrough.”

  A plucky Journalist called out a question before being asked, “And the scientists and patrols rescuing the ‘non-infected’, are they our soldiers or a government contractor?”

  “I see where this question is leading,” smiled Ken, “We have conscripted the help of HIVE to help with the efforts, but they are working in unison with our forces. This is a tragedy the likes of the world have never seen before. We need all the help we can get. HIVE has been a huge help to this nation overseas with covert operations, security details for our consulates and embassy’s and with equipment upgrades which make our armed forces and emergency services the best in the world. I would be mad not to ask them to help in a situation like this.” Knowing the line of question was going to lead to questions he was not prepared to answer he ended the conference. “I think that is all the questions we can answer for right now. Thank you to all the press for coming and please use the hotline number if you have any information or need assistance finding loved ones.”

  Chapter 40

  Abel was just waking. He was strapped in a hospital gurney. A man in Army uniform quickly came to his side. He had a thick Scottish accent and had kind eyes. There was a HIVE patch on his right breast.

  “Sorry about that. You were rolling around quite a bit so I had to strap you down.” He loosened the straps and Abel tried to sit up but was held by the soldier’s firm hand on his shoulder. “Easy there, PC Coleman. You have been through hell and back. You’re safe now. No need to worry. Sit up very slowly. You broke four ribs when you crashed.”

  Abel felt his bandages under his shirt and confirmed his ribs were broken.

  “Where are my friends?” Murmured Abel, still disorientated.

  “Your friends are fine. They are in a different ward and less banged up than you if it’s any consolation. We still can’t believe you three had the guts to steal a helicopter. I had a look into your background. Ha! No helicopter training. It’s like something from a movie. Like you’re Arnold Schwarzenegger. Still it’s good you crashed where you did. Can’t imagine what would have happened if you crashed in the camp. Now slowly sit up, if you feel up to it that is.”

  Abel slowly lifted himself up. Pangs of pain ricochet through his chest. He noticed a cotton ball sellotaped to his left arm. The Army man spotted this.

  “Yeah, about that. We have taken a small blood sample. It’s a precaution because of the infection. But I wouldn’t worry. From what I’ve seen, if you were infected, you would be grey and eating he flesh of the living by now.” He outstretched his arms in a zombie like fashion before quickly lowering them realising the tastelessness of his joke hadn’t gone down well. “I’m afraid you have a bit of a morning ahead of you. You probably just want to rest but we have some questions we need to ask you. We need a debrief of your time in Bayhollow. Particularly around what you saw at the Royal Duchess Hotel.
You were on the scene, right?”

  Abel nodded back.

  “I’m going to take you to a room where we can talk properly. If you can walk please follow me. But if you need a wheelchair that can also be arranged. Do you have any questions?”

  “Who is we?” Abel asked.

  “Excuse me?” replied the army man.

  “You said there is some questions ‘we’ need to ask. Who is conducting the debrief?”

  “That would be myself, Special Agent Kappa Nine Six, and your Police Sergeant. Sergeant Green. He is one of the only police officer to be able to escape from that nightmare.”

  Abel only knew HIVE by reputation. He knew they were a super secretive organisation so the strange name didn’t surprise him. He knew all HIVE agents were represented by a letter of the Greek alphabet and a number to protect their true identities. He had read about them online. They were only enlisted in extreme situations, usually to help beef up security. This was the first time he had actually met someone from the organisation. It was a bit like meeting an MI5 spy.

  Abel took the mans outstretched arm and he was led down the hall to a small white room. In the room was a grey plastic table with three matching chairs and leant against the back wall was Sergeant Green. He looked terrible. He had bags under his eyes and his grey hair was dishevelled. His shirt was untucked and the top button was undone. Abel had never seen him like this. He was always well kept and this new look troubled him deeply.

  Sergeant Green looked at Abel with wide eyes. “What the hell has happened to your hair!” He exclaimed.

  Abel thought this was an unusual comment to make seeing as he had just survived the night from hell.

  “You look like an egg in a shirt,” his Sergeant exclaimed making his point.

  Abel shuffled into a chair embarrassed of his appearance. “Nice to see you survived yesterday’s ordeal too Sarge,” he grumbled back.

  Sergeant Green smiled wearily. “We are so lucky to have made it. Myself, you and Angela made a really lucky escape.” His smile had sunk away. “Unlike the rest of those poor bastards.”

  Abel’s hopes of any of his other colleagues surviving the night also sunk away.

  “Anyway gentlemen, let get this underway,” Kappa Nine Six interrupted, “Sit down and we can do the debrief and let Abel leave this place.” He pulled out a tape recorder and sat it on the table. “Hive Agent Kappa Nine Six, debriefing with Sergeant Green and PC Abel Coleman. It is 0745 hours Sunday 31st March, One day after the suspected Brain-Dead Madness attack on the town of Bayhollow. PC Abel Coleman has Sergeant Green with him for representation. PC Coleman please tell us exactly what you have experienced in the past twenty-four hours.”

  Abel paused for a second before responding “Am I in trouble?” he looked towards Sergeant Green.

  “You’re not in trouble PC Coleman, we just need to know exactly what happened yesterday. We need to know what you saw,” Kappa Nine Six answered for Sergeant Green. He was smiling at Abel but his kind face no longer seemed genuine.

  “This doesn’t sound like a debrief,” responded Abel getting worked up, “Why am I being recorded? Why am I doing this with a HIVE agent and not with the police? Do I need a lawyer?”

  Sergeant Green stopped Abel before he could go any further. “Abel please. The things that happened last night, they are beyond the control of the police. Just answer the questions truthfully and then we can go.” His face was stern but his eyes were pleading with Abel, letting him know there was more to this debrief that has been presented.

  “Right fine,” Abel responded indignity. “This is what happened. Around 3.00pm I responded to a call regarding a disturbance at The Royal Duchess Hotel. Most police officers did. When I arrived, I helped Sergeant Green secure the front door which had an insane man trying to get out.”

  “What did you suspect had made the man go insane?” Asked Kappa Nine Six.

  “I was not sure. I was too busy helping to make any assumptions.”

  “In a situation like that you might reach for any answers. Did you ever suspect it was caused by a religious fanaticism?” Kappa Nine Six leaned slightly closer still smiling.

  “No. Like I said I was too busy to make assumptions. I think Sarge had a theory they were devil worshipers, or from a cult.” Abel was slightly confused why this detail would be important.

  “Please carry on,” smiled the HIVE agent.

  “Sarge asked me to help secure the perimeter. So, I made my way down to the lake. There I found a man who attacked me.”

  “Did you see anything else strange down by the lake? And why did the man attack you?” interested the HIVE agent.

  Abel thought for a moment. “The man attacked me because I found him. He was insane like the rest, and he was deformed. His body was scarred, possibly from burns but I am not sure. He ran into the woods. Come to think about it, there was something strange. Before I was attacked, I found this jelly-like substance in the tall grass.” It had suddenly dawned on Abel why he was being questioned. He put his left arm under the table and slowly felt his pocket. He could feel his pen but his notebook was missing. The only way Kappa Nine Six could have known about the devil worshiper theory and that other than the man he saw something else by the lake would be from the notebook. Abel racked is brains to remember what else was in the book. What did he write down which could be used against him? He remembered putting a description of the scarred man into the notebook and then later on, after seeing the soldiers shoot the police, he had written ‘Duchess – Murder’. They now had reasonable evidence that the notes were his notes of what had happened that day and they were wanting to find out if he had seen them murder the other police officers. He was going to get trapped. They were going to use Columbo’s famous ‘one more thing’ trick against him. Abel tried to lean back on the hard chair but the back rest was slightly dented in an uncomfortable position. A common interrogation room trick to make sure the suspect is never at ease.

  “What do you think the substance could be?” Kappa asked still smiling.

  “Err. I have no idea. Frog spawn maybe,” replied Abel now trying to figure a way out.

  “And then what happened?” asked the HIVE agent, still smiling.

  “I went after the scarred man. He had attacked a police office and by the wild look on his face I knew whatever infliction had struck the man in the hotel, the same must have inflicted him.” Abel could see the agents face light up. He had Abel. The notebook was damming evidence. Kappa Nine Six breathed in and was about to say something when Abel continued. “There was one more thing actually. After the man attacked me, I was winded so I laid on the ground to catch my breath. I noticed the crows. They were acting strange. Unnaturally really. Crows are solitary birds and known for being quite fearless. But these ones all flew away together as if they were frightened and needed to leave as quickly as possible. There were loads of them, a whole murder in fact. I found it so unusual at the time I wrote it down in my notebook.”

  Agent Kappa Nine Six’s smile disappeared for a split second before he was back in character. “Please continue.”

  Abel went through the rest of the day with little interruption. Both Agent Kappa Nine Six and Sergeant Green listened intently as he described the horror at Bayhollow. There was the dirty man who was murdered in the woods, the trip to Lydia’s flat, the terror at the police station, the nightmare at the church and the helicopter crash.

  Once he was done. Kappa Nine Six thought for a moment before asking more questions.

  “When you were at the flat you mentioned you shaved off your hair? Why was this?”

  “Yes Abel, why the hair cut?” affirmed Sergeant Green.

  “I don’t know. I was stressed. I had witnessed some horrific things. It doesn’t make sense now but at the time It was to help me think,” Abel lied weakly.

  “A suspicious man might think you wanted to change your appearance because you wanted to hide from someone. Maybe you wanted to hide from the Army or HIVE.”
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  Abel didn’t respond.

  “Now hold on. Why would Abel want to hide? He hasn’t done anything wrong,” protested the Sergeant who was taken back by this statement.

  “Because, Sergeant Green, we were looking for him and he might have known it. We were looking for all police who were at the Duchess hotel that day. Soldiers had his picture and survivors were questioned on his whereabouts. PC Coleman and PC Angela Crow are the only people who evaded our searches. Possibly because of his shaved head and the question is why he would be trying to evade us?” Kappa Nine Six was no longer mincing his words. He knew Abel had been avoiding them and he suspected it was because he saw his fellow police officer executed by a HIVE firing squad. If this was to get to the press, there would be all sorts of enquiries into the way HIVE operates which was not something his superiors would want.

  Abel felt blood rushing to his cheeks “Why was HIVE looking for those police officers?” He blurted out, “In fact, I don’t understand why HIVE are involved at all or why I need to be questioned about this. You are not the police you do not have any authority here.”