by Lara Nance
He scrolled down and they read the other entries - panicked members of their team alerting them to the upheaval and more from Jeff. The final e-mails stated the country was in chaos with fighting in the streets and the cannibal problem placed on the back burner by revolution.
“This is unbelievable,” she said. “Who would do such a thing?”
“Unfortunately, I think I know.” He grimaced.
She gave him a questioning look.
“There’s a group called the IPP, Independent Political Party. It formed because the government in the South had become too slanted to those with money who could afford to buy favors and gain power. The poor and even the middle class lost its voice due to prejudiced redistricting for voters and inability to afford quality education.”
“You have to pay for education?” She couldn’t believe such nonsense.
He let out an exasperated breath. “It’s like this. There are no taxes, but you can make donations to the government. The donation amount earns privileges like better housing, jobs, and schools. With low donations, it’s a vicious downward spiral and the poor get poorer. We wanted to change that.”
“We?” she exclaimed, stepping backward.
“Yes. I’m in the IPP, but this isn’t what we wanted. Our plan was always for a peaceful, bloodless takeover of the government.”
“Then what happened? Because it looks like a bloody mess down there.” She planted her hands on her hips, furious that this move occurred when they needed the focus on solving the cannibal problem.
“There were members who wanted to handle the coup differently. They may have been secret members of the Wrath of Freedom. It looks like they made the decision to strike without the approval of the main group.”
“This is a disaster!”
“I agree. Let me check my other e-mails. I might have a message from the leader of the IPP.”
“First send the message to the team about Manson. We can’t let this bullshit derail our mission.”
He nodded and sent a group note then transferred to one of his e-mail accounts. “Yes, this is from Jack.”
She peered over his shoulder, reading. “So this guy, Carlton, took over and tried to kill him?”
“And now he’s in hiding, trying to form a way to regroup IPP members to defeat these WOF revolutionaries.”
“He wants you to talk to the other members and rally them to help remove Carlton from his position of power? Doesn’t he know you’re up here trying to save the world? These people sound like idiots.”
“He probably doesn’t know how involved I am. Plus I’m not sure how much the citizens know about the team. With this brewing, he probably had his hands too full trying to stop it to worry about my involvement in the research group.”
“Well, this is just dandy. Manson’s disappeared and the South has imploded.” She plopped into a chair beside him. “We’re doomed. Even if we find a cure, your country’s in no shape to coordinate with the North in deploying it.”
He pounded his fist on the desktop, anger and frustration writ on his face.
The door to the lab slid open. Anxious for Manson’s return, she stiffened when armed soldiers in navy uniforms flooded the room. She and Linc jumped to their feet.
“Who are you?” she yelled, fear tightening her chest.
A man with gray hair approached them. “Are you Miss Moralez and Dr. Butler?”
“Yes, and we have important work to do. What is the meaning of this interruption?”
“We’ve been sent to bring you to the capital for your own safety.”
“Safety from what? This is a university.” She waved her hands. “We don’t need national security guards to protect us.”
He cleared his throat. “We’re not from National Security. We’re with R.D….Radical Democracy. Now please come with us.” He reached out and wrapped his hand around her upper arm as another two guards came to take Linc.
***
Linc’s forced calm teetered on the edge of dissolving as the guards ushered them past a set of gates and into the capital building. He’d seen pictures of the North’s seat of government but never imagined he’d go inside it. When he had asked the guards for details of their surprising appearance, none offered a single reply.
He and Ria were forced into a place that must have served as a sitting room. It had no tall windows as in the other rooms they’d passed, but rich upholstery covered the furniture and an ornate glass light sculpture hung from the ceiling. A young woman with a cap of white hair sat on a sofa, her eyes red-rimmed.
“Wait here,” one of the guards ordered, then he and his compatriots filed out. Unfortunately, one of them took his gun.
“Madeline, what’s going on?” Ria advanced on the other woman. “Those men said they’re with the RD. Where are the national security forces?”
The white-haired lady rose, and fresh tears trailed her cheeks. “These armed men rushed in and stunned the guards and anyone who resisted. They’re holding the Triumvirate members somewhere, I don’t know. This is horrible.”
He crossed to her and put a hand on her shoulder. Damn, he hated it when women cried. “Calm down. You’re okay, right?”
“Yes.” She sniffed. “But this means the intruders control the government. This is beyond terrible. I don’t understand what happened, it was so sudden.”
Ria took her other arm. “Listen, did Manson leave before this happened?”
“Y, y, yes. He met with the T.M.’s then left in a military car with a bunch of the T.M.’s personal troops. I assumed he was going to the lab. No one told me anything.” She scrunched a tissue between her fingers. “A couple hours later, the intruders entered.”
“They were here when you were talking to me?” Ria asked.
“Yes, I’m sorry. They made me ask where you were and told me what to say. They said they needed to secure you and Dr. Butler.”
Linc fell into a chair. “Just when I thought fighting a cannibal virus was the worst thing that could happen…”
Ria rubbed her hand over her forehead. “I can’t believe this. We had a stable government. Why would anyone do this?”
“They said they want more liberal laws and to keep the North from any possibility of reunification with the South. I heard one of them say they were the ones who tried to kill T.M. Rominoff, and they also set off that bomb in the Plaza as a warning.”
“What?” Ria bolted to her feet. “They did that? It wasn’t the South?”
Madeline returned to her seat on the couch. “That’s right. They wanted us to think it was so it would build more hatred for Southerners and they’d gain support for non-reunification.”
Ria melted to her knees beside the chair and pounded its seat cushion with both fists. “Fucking bastards. Fucking bastards! They killed my sister.”
“We can’t let them know we have that information,” Linc said. He wanted to go to her and offer comfort, but the situation demanded a hard, cold analysis. It could mean their lives.
“How can I do that?” She glared at him, her face infused with redness. “They murdered Lola!”
He leaned forward. “I understand. But we have to be smart about this. They are going to want us to continue the research, you can count on that. If we go along with them and act sympathetic, we’ll have more freedom. If you accuse them of being murderers and show them hatred, they’re going to lock us up. Then we’ll have no hope of escape.”
She sat back on her heels and let her head hang to her chest.
“The most important thing right now is freedom so we can move around the city and make a decision about how to carry forward.” He hoped his reasoning got through to her. He glanced at the door. They had little time.
“He’s right,” Madeline said in a dead voice, her face gone blank. “It’s politics. Never show your true face. Thank you for reminding me. I can’t help my government if they lock me away, either.”
Ria slowly raised her head, her eyes hollow and sad. “What do you want
me to do?”
“Let them do the talking. Agree with continuing the work. We’ll tell them we don’t care about who runs the country as long as they let us stop this parasite. I’m sure that’s important to them, otherwise, they won’t have a country.”
She pushed her unruly black curls out of her face and crawled into her seat. She rested her head in her hands, elbows propped on her knees, a picture of dejection.
He let out a soft sigh of relief. He didn’t know anything about this Radical Democracy. He’d never heard it mentioned in his IPP meetings. It didn’t sound anything like what his Southern group touted. For now, he’d keep his involvement in that faction between Ria and him.
The door opened, and a tall man with graying hair entered. He paused inside the doorway, adjusting the lapels of his formal black tunic, then motioned a couple of guards to follow him inside.
“Hello, I’m Everett Boston.” He nodded with no move to shake hands and took a seat. “Please, be at ease. We brought you here for your own safety. Although we completely control the government and military at this point, there could be some citizen unrest after the news broadcast this evening.”
Linc watched Ria, hoping she’d stay silent. She appeared numb, unmoving, with her hands folded in her lap. She didn’t even look at the man.
“I’m sure you have many questions, so I’ll try to fill you in on what has occurred, but it will be brief. Our goal is to make sure you continue your research as quickly as possible. As soon as we have the city secured, you’ll return to that work.”
“Good,” Linc said. “That’s what we want. Fighting this parasite is our only concern.”
Mr. Boston offered a faint smile. “Excellent. Then we’re aligned in our thinking. Everything will be so much easier if that’s true.”
Ria turned her head slightly to direct her gaze at the man.
“This afternoon, I and the forces of the RD took over the capital with the help of the National Security guard, which had been converted to our side over the past few years. The recent statements by the Triumvirate to ease restrictions between the North and South forced us to take action, especially given the unprecedented collegial cooperation over this parasite issue. We felt this crisis, once solved, would pave the way for even more interaction, and that cannot happen.”
“Why do you not want that to happen?” Ria asked.
“A good question, Miss Moralez, and a fair one.” He inclined his head in her direction. “As patriots for the Democracy of America, we, along with many in the military, do not want our people to ever endure another civil war. The loss of life and the devastation of the environment as well as the economy are unconscionable. Keeping the two people apart is the best chance of preserving our peace and the advancements we’ve made to our civilization. We must have no casual interaction with the South.”
He glanced at Linc. “No offense, Dr. Butler. This isn’t personal.”
“Of course,” Linc said in an even voice. “None taken.”
“Good. Then I can assure my leaders that you two are willing to continue your work, and will cause no problems?”
“Yes,” Ria said in a strong voice. “That’s what we want. Stopping the parasite spread is the most important issue right now.”
“Will we continue collaboration with the South?” Linc asked.
Mr. Boston shook his head with a rueful smile. “I’m afraid not. It was always clear that the North would provide the brainpower and technology for solving this problem. If you’re willing to continue in the North, Dr. Butler, we have no problem with your immigration and welcome your help with this task. If you don’t agree, I’m afraid I’ll have to have you detained and eventually returned to the ROA.”
Linc forced a fake smile. “Oh, I’m happy to stay here. Ever since I arrived, I can’t believe how backward and ignorant the South has become. You just handed me my dream. Thank you.”
Ria cut her eyes at him but said nothing.
“Well, this went better than I expected.” Mr. Boston rose, all geniality. “I’ll ask you to allow us the rest of the night to set up security at the lab and university. When that’s complete, someone will contact you in the morning about procedures for using the facility in the future.”
“We’re free to go?” Ria asked.
“Of course. The city is sealed with the force shield. Even if you wanted to leave, you couldn’t without proper ID.”
She turned to Madeline. “Ms. Jinee is our liaison for the group. Can you have her alert the other members of the changes?”
“Don’t worry. They’re all here in separate rooms. After we have a similar discussion, I’m hopeful they’ll also agree to cooperate.”
Linc cast the young woman a sympathetic glance, but she remained stone-faced and unresponsive. At least Ria had tried to help her.
“I’ll have my guards take you home now.” He motioned to the two men at attention by the door.
“I’d like to go to my parents, if that’s okay. I’m sure they’re worried about me,” she said.
“By all means.”
The guards herded them outside and into an air-car. Linc and Ria sat in the back seat as they zipped through the heavily guarded gates and along the streets to her parents. Overhead, unfamiliar drones buzzed, crisscrossing the sky. Linc’s mind raced evaluating their options. Granted they still needed to defeat the parasite, but how would they deal with this coup? The assholes wouldn’t share information with the South, signing their death warrant. He couldn’t allow that to happen.
The roads were empty of civilians, although people peeked out of windows as their car passed. Navy blue uniformed soldiers of the RD patrolled with no sign of civil unrest. Surely they had the populace terrified. A cannibal threat loomed, and now a coup of the government hinted at violence. He’d stay home, too.
Ria slid closer and put her hand on his. The gesture warmed his heart. He nodded and squeezed her hand. They’d get through this somehow. He gazed into her eyes, which sparkled with fear, but underneath that burned something more.
Determination.
Chapter Seventeen
Ria hurried from the R.D.’s air-car, worried sick about her family. Linc followed close behind as she rushed to the lift. She prayed they’d stayed in their apartment and avoided any violence.
Her parents’ apartment was keyed to her thumbprint, so she opened the door and went in. “Mom? Dad?”
The light was dim in the living room. Where were they? Her pulse raced.
“Aunt Ria?” Conner ran in from the kitchen, followed by her parents.
She gulped a cry of relief. “Are you all right? Do you know what’s happened?”
The four met in a group hug, murmuring words of concern. Poor Linc stood by the door, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. She broke away and took his hand. “Linc and I have had quite a day. The city is under martial law by an extreme group, Radical Democracy. They took us from the lab and finally released us when we agreed to continue work on the parasite. The government has collapsed.”
“You weren’t hurt?” her father asked, a fierce look on his face.
“No. But I was scared,” she admitted. She didn’t mention her horror at learning they’d been responsible for Lola’s death. She couldn’t bring herself to talk about that right now.
“What have you heard from the media?” Linc asked.
“We have much to discuss. You and Linc sit, and I’ll bring you something to eat and then we can talk.” Her mother bustled to the kitchen.
Conner hugged her and then Linc, bless his heart. What a sweet kid. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried when I saw the soldiers in the street. They even came to our door and told us to stay inside.”
She glanced at Linc over the child’s head. The poor boy had suffered too much lately. She didn’t even know what to say to him to offer comfort.
“Hey, buddy,” Linc said, draping an arm around Conner’s shoulders. “Everything is calm in the streets. I don’t think we have anything
to worry about. These people want to keep it peaceful.”
“You think so?” The boy stared up at him with big, hopeful eyes.
“Yeah, that’s what they told us. They took us right to the capital building for a meeting.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good.” Conner sat beside Linc on the sofa and tucked his legs under him, leaning against the man.
“What are they going to do about your research?” her dad asked, taking a chair across from the couch. “We still have a parasite causing cannibalism.”
She sat on the other side of her nephew. “They said they’re securing the lab, and tomorrow we’re supposed to return to the lab and resume our testing.”
“Are they going to let Linc stay?”
Linc laughed. “I kind of exaggerated my love for the North enough that they believe I want to stay.”
“You don’t want to stay?” She wanted to believe what he’d told Mr. Boston. They’d been together so much that she’d come to see him as a part of her life, a friend and colleague. He didn’t seem like a Southerner, anymore.
He shifted in his seat to face her. “For now, yes.”
“We like you, Linc,” Conner said. “You should stay forever.”
“Here’s some nourishment,” her mother said, interrupting. She placed a tray of various dishes on the coffee table and handed them utensils and small plates. “Would you like some wine, Linc? I know Ria would.”
His expression brightened from the strained look brought on by mention of returning to the South. “I’d love some.”
“Is cabmernot okay?”
“My favorite,” he said.
Ria’s stomach growled at the smell of her mother’s cabbage butternut tarts and chicken-soy teriyaki sticks. Hunger overcame her anxiety. Her dad picked up the dish of artichoke cream dip and handed it to her along with some corn nugget patties. She loved these.
“Thanks, Dad.” She spooned the dip onto her plate and handed the bowl to Linc. “This is great.”
“I like this dip, too.” Conner swiped a corn patty into the creamy green mixture.
Her mother returned with the wine in her best crystal glasses. Ria shot a questioning look in her direction. Was her mom hoping to impress Linc?