by Lara Nance
“All completely secure,” she said after testing each slide. “The temperature of the feed duct is stable. I-I don’t understand…”
“Recreate recent events,” Min suggested. “What were you guys doing right before they died? Let’s walk through it.”
She twisted her fingers together, trying to remember. “I had entered new orders for the sequencer, we ate, Linc suggested looking at the latest mutation again, and I inserted a life-slide.”
“Wait.” Linc held up a hand. “Had the oxygen additive expired?”
She checked the date on the slide. “No, it’s good. Let me check the others. There are five more. These have the same date.”
“Place one in the viewer,” Min said. “See if they died, too.”
She placed the next slide in the feed, and it seemed like an hour instead of seconds for the blue-green light sequence. The specimen came into view.
“They’re moving,” Linc said. His voice held excitement. “Watch them carefully.”
“After you put the other slide in, what did you do?” Min asked.
“Um.” She chewed on her fingernail. “Let’s see. Oh, I know, the sequencer finished and I transferred the report to the computer.”
“Can you do that again?”
“Yes.”
“Linc and I will keep an eye on the parasites while you repeat the action.”
She went to that equipment and set the end. When it went off, she glanced at them and performed the transfer. “Did anything happen?”
“Not yet,” Linc said.
She returned to the Micro-viewer. The little creatures continued their wiggling process in the life-slide goo. They waited at least two minutes. Nothing. Her bubble of eager anticipation deflated. Nothing.
“There has to be something else,” Min said. “What happened after you completed the sequencer event?”
She searched her memory. “I can’t remember. We were just talking.”
“No, you got the call on your wrist-comm,” Linc said, pointing to the unit lying on the counter beside the viewer.
“That’s right. It vibrated. I picked it up, saw it was my parents, and put it back down.” She looked at Minlo. “What could that do?”
“We have to recreate the event,” he said. “Is it positioned where it was before?”
She moved it a few inches to the right. “There. That’s approximately where it was.”
“I’ll call it from my handheld. What’s your link code?” He punched it in as she told him.
They held their breaths, waiting. The comm vibrated, and she stared at the parasites. She tried not to blink. It only took a couple seconds after the vibration for the parasites to stop moving. Then they exploded. Ria met Linc’s eyes then Min’s. Her heart nearly burst with joy and relief. Somehow they’d killed the monster, not once, but twice. It couldn’t be a fluke. She gasped, and they all jumped up and down, yelling.
When their initial jubilant celebration ended, she panted. Spent and relieved, she wiped tears of happiness from her cheeks.
“So it’s the vibration?” she asked, pressing a hand against her chest.
“Apparently,” Linc said.
Minlo rubbed his chin. “Thing is, it’s probably not just any vibration. I’d bet there’s a specific frequency.”
“I don’t understand,” she said, trying for calm after the elation of finding the cause of death. They still had to make it work for the outside world. “How does it kill the parasite without damaging anything else?”
“Somehow it aligns with the structure of the creature in a way that disrupts membrane integrity.” Linc pointed to the screen.
“So if we can recreate the right frequency, we should kill every parasite within range?” Linc sat forward in his chair.
“That’s right,” Min said.
“There are some issues that might be a problem,” Ria said, tapping a finger against her bottom lip. “If it kills the parasite, but the virus still lives, couldn’t it re-infect another organism?”
“Let’s have a look,” Linc said. “Increase the magnification. If the virus is intact, this won’t work.”
She ran her forefinger over the control panel, making the adjustment. The green organism came into view, and she fine-tuned the focus. The virus had imploded. Its normally round, spiky shape had become a flattened blob.
“It killed the virus, too. That’s it. We’ve found the cure,” she said, filled with a sudden lightness. Still, it might not be a panacea. “What about in the ocean? How do we use vibration there?” Her thoughts tumbled with questions. “How do we create vibration in the people currently infected?”
Min paced, head down. She could almost see the cogs turning in his brain. “For the ones in prisons, it wouldn’t be a problem. Hmm. Hey, didn’t Manson say they’d developed a way to shoot the serum into people? Why not use the same delivery system and shoot a vibrating nanotech bot into people?”
Linc nodded. “Might work. The ocean shouldn’t be too much of a problem, either. The water will help transmit vibration. If they can position vibrating units strategically, it could happen simultaneously.”
“Okay, okay, this is sounding tight,” Min said. “All doable with some coordination.”
“Let’s test on a live victim before we commit to this theory,” Ria said.
“Good idea. Min, can you help us construct a harness that would adequately deliver the vibration at the right frequency?”
“Hell, yeah,” the young man said enthusiastically.
“Okay, let’s plan this out.” Ria picked up her tech pad. “I’d like to set up a tentative timeline for the process. How long to identify the exact frequency then construct the harness and test it on one of the prisoners downstairs?”
“You and your timelines,” Min muttered. He thought for a moment. “If the soldiers have the supplies I need, I’d say we should be ready to test in a couple of hours.”
“Make a list,” Linc said. “While you’re doing that, I’m going to compose a letter to send to the people currently in charge of the North and South, outlining our demands.”
“So once we test and it’s successful, you think we should send the demand?” Ria asked.
“Yes. The sooner we start the process, the better. We can give them the frequency and some ideas for implementation, but it will be up to them to organize the delivery along with the international community.”
“I hate to put a mondo snag in your great plan,” Min said. “But what if the guards don’t let us carry out our little blackmail plan?”
“They work for the Triumvirate. This will put them back in power,” Linc said. “I’m betting they’ll support it. To be safe, though, let’s keep the details under wraps until we have a firm commitment from the two acting governments.”
They were so close. Ria couldn’t stand the thought a bunch of stupid politicians would screw this up. Linc was right. They had to do this themselves.
She and Min nodded.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jittery nerves infected Ria despite her relief at finding a cure. So many things could go wrong as they worked through this plan. It didn’t help that she’d had about five cups of coffee either.
“We need to have the subject here in the lab to test the vibration.” Min used a laser pin to work on a device that would deliver the vibration. “I may have to make adjustments to hit the right frequency.”
She understood his reasoning. They needed control and the lab equipment, but the thought of having one of the creatures here and not in a cage nearly petrified her. She’d seen too many of them in their hungry rage.
“We have to make sure they are completely secure if we do. There’s an empty lab table here we could use.” Ria pointed to a stainless steel unit on wheels in the far corner of the room. “If the troops bring us a subject, we can strap him to the table and attach electrodes to deliver the vibration pulse.”
Linc scratched his head. “That means we’ll have to tell them at least pa
rt of what we’re doing.”
“Can’t we say we need to do some testing prior to verifying a cure? Something vague?” She leaned against the desk and nudged Min. “They don’t have to know vibration is the key. Right?”
“That’s true,” the young man said. “Yeah. Pre-testing. That sounds sciency.”
“Sciency?” She couldn’t get used to his embellishments of the English language.
Min shrugged.
“It’s worth a try. I’ll ask the guy guarding the lift outside to help.” Linc headed through a gaping hole in the broken clear panel that used to be the door before the soldiers had smashed it in to reach Manson. After a minute, he returned. “He’s going to contact soldiers on the first floor to transport one of the prisoners here.”
“Did he ask any questions?” Ria asked, surprised at the easy compliance. But then they were following orders to facilitate a cure. They’d let a madman have his way, why not them?
Linc shot a harsh look after the departed soldier. “Maybe they’re trying to make up for allowing Manson to use us as lab rats.”
“I don’t trust any of them,” Min said his brows coming together..
“We need to look for ways to strap our subject so there’s no movement.” She weaved among the various pieces of equipment to the table.
“Why don’t we use the restraints from the infirmary? They held you guys down, didn’t they?” Min placed his vibration device on the table. “I’m done with this. I could bring them up.”
“Brilliant idea, Binky. No point reinventing something that already exists.” Linc slapped him on the shoulder. “Hurry back. We’ll need them as soon as the guards return with the prisoner.”
Minlo gave his typical jaunty salute and headed for the lift.
“I hope he doesn’t get side-tracked and end up on the pool level,” she said. “He likes that area a lot.”
Linc laughed. “If he’s not back in a few minutes, I’ll go look for him. Should I bring the bottle of whiskey?”
“Bring champagne. If this idea works, we can have a well-deserved celebration.”
“Deal.”
“I also believe you promised to make me your famous lasagna when this was over. So we’ll have that, too.”
She sank into a chair to wait, although she almost feared getting too comfortable and falling asleep. She ran the steps of their experiment through her mind. Did they forget anything? Could it really be as simple as vibration? Would the guards see through their scheme?
Across the desk, Linc continued working on one of the computers. A warmth spread across her face. He’d done so much since they’d met in Louisiana. He’d saved her life, encouraged her and provided intelligent ideas for solving this problem. He had also provided comfort that left her longing for more physical contact. Where would she be without him?
He glanced up and caught her. “What?”
“I was merely having a grateful moment.” She smiled.
“Gratitude? Hang onto that thought until we’re out of here.”
“I meant for you. You’ve been amazing. If I forget or get killed, thank you for everything.” The idea of his contributions tugged on her heart, along with the realization she had slowly, without meaning to, become attracted to him. She couldn’t indulge that idea for now, however. They still had so much to do and so many possibilities for it to blow up in their faces.
He tugged on the ribbed neckline of his tunic. “I don’t think I did anything that great.”
“Linc?” She cast a sideways glance in his direction. “When the RD had us, you said you wanted to stay in the North. Were you serious or just being agreeable to get out of there?”
He avoided her gaze and released a deep, weighty sigh. “That’s such a complicated issue. A mere yes or no isn’t a sufficient answer.”
She rested her chin on her fist, gazing at him. “You know, the harsh stories we hear as kids about the South I don’t believe are completely true, anymore. Probably society’s way of justifying actions of the past or the continued need for separation. I bet you were told similar stories about the North.”
He chuckled. “Okay, yeah, we were led to believe Northerners felt superior to us and had no morals or patriotism. A bunch of atheists who bought into the whole socialist agenda. My mental picture was blown away after I came to know you, though.”
It relieved her to have this out in the open and nice to know she didn’t fit that mold. “And we believed Southerners were ignorant masses, too ruled by religion to have an objective or rational thought, yet unwilling to lend a hand to someone they perceived as unworthy, not to mention completely intolerant of anyone other than the typical white standard-issue human.”
He narrowed his eyes. “The intolerant part isn’t completely without basis, I hate to say. I lost my twin to the North when authorities learned he was homosexual. He could have stayed, but he’d have had to hide his preferences his whole life. My parents wanted him to be happy, so they let him immigrate.”
“Oh? I thought he was deported. That’s what Louis told me.”
“No. The South isn’t that crass. They simply imprison deviants or make it uncomfortable for those who are different so they’ll make their own decision to leave.” He gave a derisive short laugh.
“You’re going to return there to live?”
“Ria, I don’t even know if there will be a South by the time this is over. I haven’t thought about it.”
“It’s only that I suspect you don’t exactly fit in with the ideology there. Maybe you’d be more comfortable in the North.” She shot him a wry smile. “I could help you find work at the university.”
He stopped typing and laced his fingers together. After a long, considering look, he said. “If I decide to stay, it will be for only one reason.”
The intensity of his gaze sent a blaze to her cheeks. Did he mean her? She was afraid to ask but she wanted to know. She wanted that reason to be her. She wanted to be enough for him to make that decision. But she couldn’t force him to say it.
The shrill call of an alarm startled her. Red lights flashed. Linc came to his feet, frowning.
She followed him to seek out the guard.
The man in question had a hand to his earpiece, his face set in fierce lines. He glanced their way and pointed a finger to the lab. “You two need to stay here. There’s been an accident on the prisoner unit.”
“What happened?” she asked, as images of possibilities flashed through her mind: a prisoner escaped, a guard killed, Min in trouble.
“The prisoner they chose to bring escaped and attacked two soldiers. He pretended to go limp from the tranc-spray. He set the other infected victims free, and they’ve disappeared.”
“They’re loose in the bunker? All four of them?” Linc’s voice increased in volume and he planted his hands on his waist. “You can’t be serious. Do you know how dangerous they are?”
“Yes, sir. We’re hunting them now. Don’t worry. With blasters, we’ll eliminate the threat soon.”
“Wait a minute.” She held up a hand. “We need a live subject to test the cure. You can’t kill them.”
He shook his head, his expression stern. “I’m sorry, but if they attack, we’ll have to do what’s needed to defend the station. This base is crucial. We can’t fall to the infected.”
She shot an appealing look at Linc. Without a live person to prove their theory, their plans would never work. From the grim set of his face, he understood this, too.
“Can’t they use stun guns?” he asked.
“They’ll do what’s necessary. I can alert them to your needs, but if they’re in danger, they’ll take out the threat,” he said in stern a tone.
She grabbed Linc’s arm and clutched her chest. “Min’s down there!”
“Damn it. We can’t let them get to him. He has knowledge vital to the cure.” He turned to the guard. “Tell your men to find Minlo and protect him. He went to the infirmary.”
“He’s been gone too long. What if
they killed him?” She squeezed Linc’s arm.
“I’m going down there,” he said, heading for the lift.
He was going where the cannibals waited. He could be killed. She couldn’t stand that.
“No,” she yelled, trying to hold onto him.
He pulled from her grasp.
The soldier hefted his weapon and broadened his stance. “Hold on. You can’t leave. I have orders that you two have to stay here where it’s safe.”
Linc barely missed a step, pushing her into the soldier, which made the guy stumble backward. He slipped into the stairwell before they recovered. The man swiped her to the side with one arm and hurried to the door.
“Hey, Dr. Butler. Stop!” He halted just inside the portal. Linc’s steps echoed, rapidly descending.
She pounded a fist against the wall. Now both Min and Linc were in danger. Was she supposed to sit up here and wait while they got themselves killed?
The soldier returned, his jaw clenched. He motioned with the end of his blaster and barked, “Into the lab, Miss Moralez. Now!”
She had no choice. He stared her down, eyes cold and determined.
She scrambled through the broken door, and he took a position with gun ready, pointed at the lift and stairs. If one of the cannibals managed to make it this far, she had no doubt of its fate. If the other soldiers had the same attitude, they’d be left with no live victims.
After a moment of indecision, she went to the computer. Maybe the camera Manson had used still operated in the detention level. She searched the database. Yes! The monitor still had power. She activated the link, and a view of the cells appeared. She gasped.
Blood sprayed the walls and cells. Two guards sprawled on the floor, covered in red. The one face up had a gaping hole in the side of his head. The woman lay on her stomach, and one of her arms was ripped open. Her other arm moved feebly, her only sign of life. She must have been the one who sent the alert. Ria covered her mouth, horrified.
She noticed a drawing on one of the cell walls and used the remote controls to zoom in. It was a face, a child, intricately drawn on the white painted surface. The details were so lifelike, a lump formed in her throat. One of the infected had drawn it. Could they remember people from their past? If she wasn’t mistaken, this cell had held the female. Was the little girl her daughter?