The Zombie Effect

by Sampson, Roger

  “Alright, I’ll write it up. Get to work you two,” Cliff advises. Beth’s head whips around at Cliff as if shot out of a gun.

  “I need to finish my report,” Beth objects. Beth sees right through Cliff. She expected he’d have her do some research or something, not be his lab partner.

  “That can wait. Let’s work on this first,” Cliff subtly negotiates. The father and daughter dynamic in full swing. Beth need not enjoy the time she spends with Jack, but Cliff wants to know as soon as possible if this will be helpful. And the one person he trusts with that revelation is Beth. Beth gets it. But she hates it. She glares at Cliff. Cliff stares back. Beth sighs and walks away.

  “Everything OK?” Jack asks, feeling the ever thickening air in the room. Cliff smiles and pats Jack on the shoulder like it’s not Jack’s fault that he has no idea the gravity of the question. Too many things going on simultaneously to even start that conversation, Cliff thinks. He walks away. Jack follows him out of the room with his eyes. Jack knows something’s up, and assumes it must be him.

  “Keep me posted,” Cliff instructs very matter-of-factly.

  “OK,” Jack responds. Jack sits at the computer terminal and types.

  Beth strolls in and sighs. The moment she has been trying to avoid has finally arrived. She thought after high school she would be able to walk away from the feelings she had for Jack. His naivety and shyness were cute for a while. But his obliviousness to her feelings proved a bit harder to get over. She’s a very pretty girl. And he should have appreciated it a bit more. But that’s all in the past now. The duties of being a Barrister call, and she will do as is required of her and see what Jack has found.

  “Alright, let’s get this over with. I authored a paper on new organism research and created a bio protocol to test materials,” Beth advises.

  “Did you?” Jack replies, clearly impressed. Jack is not as good at hiding his feelings as he wants to be. He was always impressed with Beth. He always felt unworthy of her affections though, so telling her how he felt was out of the question. But expressing his feelings in other ways, like celebrating her victories, is completely within his comfort zone. Beth glares back at Jack, assuming his tone is meant as sarcasm instead of sincerity.

  “That a problem?” she accuses. Jack smiles big.

  “Nope,” he says.

  “We expose the material to biological and elemental compounds to gauge reaction. We document which materials react favorably. Which ones kill the organism. Whatever. Once that’s done, we can make a genetic map of it and submit the results to the CDC for confirmation and recording,” Beth explains.

  “Impressive,” Jack says as if expressing his love for her. Beth smiles faintly, picking up the subtle cue and allowing herself a brief moment to enjoy the affection.

  “Thanks,” she replies, both to the statement and the sentiment.

  Beth types feverishly on the computer. Screens from her software flash and scroll in a dance of light with her as its conductor. Machines in the server room bleep and hum into action. The microscope jumps to life in a series of small mechanical arm maneuvers inside the clean room. The arm opens a freezer door, retrieves the sample container and eloquently removes the sample from its container, placing it on the workstation table next to it. A laser arm protrudes out and slithers over the top of the sample like a snake hunting its prey. The laser slices a wafer thin section of the ice core sample free. Another small arm follows that and removes the sliver of ice from the workstation and places it gently on a tray. Then as if working with precious material, lightly slides the tray into the microscope and seals the opening. It backs slowly away, its task completed. Computer monitors spring to life with data in three dimensional images of the sample with scrolling data as the ice gives up its secrets. A separate monitor vomits the chemical composition of the compounds and organic material it sees in the microscope. The first compound on the list highlights. “How long is this going to take?” Jake inquires.

  “I dunno. This is the first time I’ve run it,” Beth replies. Jack peeks at his watch.

  “Do we have time to eat?” Jack asks. Beth looks at Jack as if he just asked her on a date. She reels in her emotional response, considering he has a point. They need to eat and this analysis could take a while. She rises and they head out of the room as the monitors work tirelessly behind them.

  CHAPTER 4

  Jack and Beth enter the Barrister Institute cafeteria. An impressive eatery by any standards, it includes an enormous kitchen with 6 stations that serve a variety of foods from standard American fare in addition to Chinese food, pizza, Italian, Vegan and Mexican along with a coffee bar. The cafeteria is large enough to house the entire institute’s staff with 50 tables with chairs. Entrances from both the east and west wing make it easy to get to. Beth nibbles a salad as Jack takes a bite out of his turkey on rye sandwich.

  “The CDC, huh?” Jack inquires in a tone both designed to praise the accomplishment as much as weaken the ice between them. Beth looks up from her salad receiving the double entendre gesture. “What you did in Africa?” Jack continues, making sure the message was delivered. Jack never was any good at picking up subtle hints.

  “Yeah,” Beth responds, half toying with Jack and half sincerely thankful he noticed.

  “E. Coli?” Jack asks, probing for conversation. In spite of the history between them, they are actually very comfortable with each other. Beth hates that worse than anything. She sighs.

  “Salmonella risk factors in infants,” she replies, afraid of Jack’s reaction. She wants to say it again in a different tone because she can feel her wall cracking just a bit.

  “I knew you’d change the world,” Jack compliments her. Beth stops chewing. Jack is really trying to connect with her and she feels it. Maybe he’s grown up a bit since last they saw each other. She plays with her food nervously pondering her next move.

  “What about you?” she asks, changing the subject.

  “Nothing so noble. Though I do have a mean recipe for moonshine,” Jack responds. His self-depreciative tone attempting to keep the spotlight on Beth. He has no shortage of self-confidence, even a bit of arrogance about his abilities, but this is not the time nor the place. Beth smiles at the gesture. She senses that he’s trying.

  “Moonshine?” she pokes. Her gesture of cracking the door ajar gets Jack’s attention. Now don’t screw it up, he thinks. Jack smiles.

  “I get bored easily,” he replies.

  “That would explain your 4.0 average,” Beth jokes again. Jack stops chewing his most recent bite and looks at Beth and smiles big. They are actually having a conversation now. This is progress. Jack sees an opening and takes it.

  “If only I’d been that smart in high school,” Jack says. His undertone of regret for not expressing his feelings sooner on display. Beth smiles at his confession. Though she’s not quite ready to go there yet. But she is enjoying the conversation.

  “This bacteria you’ve found may be an important find,” Beth says, changing the subject both to get their relationship off topic but also to restore his confidence.

  “Maybe,” Jack replies hopefully.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Beth notices Jason approach the table. Jason is a rather hunky, but cocky 22 year old in his senior year of internship from the university. For the past 18 months, he’s served under Dr. Barrister as the lead intern on most projects. The status he’s enjoyed has gone to his head. He’s still a very bright young man, but he’s become more in love with the power than the science. And Beth feels the heat of his thoughts on the back of her neck every time he talks to her. She tolerates it because they are co-workers now. But he’s slick as old motor oil.

  “Hi Beth,” Jason gleefully chimes. Beth looks up at Jason and forces a smile.

  “Jason. How are you?” Beth politely replies, using the most worn greeting of all time. Jason smiles at the thought she’s thought about him. But of course she has. Why wouldn’t she?

  “Good. Looking forw
ard to tonight,” Jason flirts. As subtlety goes, it’s not Jason’s strong suit. He doesn’t need it most of the time. He’s quite the ladies’ man. Just ask him. Beth’s face flushes at the overtone.

  “Yeah. Should be fun. This is Jackson Hart,” Beth says, changing the awkward subject. Jack picks up on the cue but unaware of the strike about to be launched in his direction. Jason speaks without taking his eyes off Beth.

  “Resident genius. I know,” he says with a hint of competition and a sprinkle of contempt. Jack suddenly feels the target on his chest, making him take a semi-deep breath. Jack looks up at Jason, trying to recall what he said or did to warrant such a hostile reception. Jason feels the eyes on the side of his face and glances over at Jack. Standing at the table like a warrior staring down at his target from an elevated position. Jack offers his hand in half truce. Jason receives it out of pure politically correct protocol, as if doing Jack a favor he didn’t earn.

  “Nice to meet you,” Jack offers weakly, still trying to track the missile of hostility to its point of origin. Jason smiles.

  “Dr. Barrister speaks highly of you. So highly he gave you my internship,” Jason retorts. The truth comes out. Jack’s face flushes like it was covered in a hot blanket as he recognizes the sharp edge of envy that just cut him. Jack never considered the consequences of his good fortune would mean something bad for someone else. A miscalculation that’s created a pretty awkward situation. “I’m sorry,” Jack apologizes, knowing it would have no effect. But social politics demand their protocol nonetheless.

  “Don’t be. I’m sure you’re all that,” Jason warns. Whether Jack likes it or not, his very existence has earned him an enemy, at least for now. Nothing to be done or said. Jason looks at his watch like he’s become suddenly bored with the conversation. He has to end the conversation on his terms, after all, in order to show Jack what he’s up against. “I gotta go,” Jason advises. He looks at Beth and smiles. “See you tonight,” he continues. Jack feels the warning to stay away from romantic inclinations as they apply to Beth. Whether he feels them or not. Beth smiles awkwardly. Jason trots away.

  The air has been sucked out of the room. But with it a sense of relief. Beth breaks the awkward silence. “They’re throwing me a welcome back party at Joe’s,” Beth says.

  “He’s sure glad to have you back,” Jack offers sarcastically, trying not to completely avoid the elephant in the room. Beth shifts in her seat uncomfortably. She’d prefer not to think about that.

  “Why don’t you come?” she offers, almost surprising herself. Jack glances in Jason’s general direction. He’s just getting started around here and though he can’t hide his feelings for Beth forever, perhaps attending a function with Jason around may prove a bigger challenge than he really wants to deal with right now. Not to mention Jason would probably take him in a fight. Probably should wait as long as possible for that confrontation.

  “I should finish the analysis,” Jack replies. His words pierce the air like an arrow and suck the remaining momentum their previous conversation had right out of the air. Perhaps Jack hasn’t grown up that much after all, Beth thinks. She shakes her head hiding her regret.

  “Yeah,” she replies.

  CHAPTER 5

  Jack has spent many evenings in the Barrister lab late at night working on projects, research papers or just to clear his head. This time it’s different. He senses the awkwardness between he and Beth. More to the point, when he gets close to something good, there are always obstacles. His internship. His relationships. Even his parents, who shipped him off to schools he didn’t want to go to because he was so smart. They told him it was for his own good in order for him to develop. But he just wanted to be a kid. It’s as if adulthood was thrust on him against his will from a young age. Maybe that’s why he goes out of his way to play games now. So much is expected from him that he never asked for. He didn’t ask to be so smart. But here he is with the burden to carry.

  Jack slumps in a chair in the lab, which is devoid of light. The monitors dance with result after result of “No Reaction” as the organism goes through test after test. Jack is beginning to believe, like all good things he’s ever wanted, this will come to nothing. The monitors, so far, support his theory. Jack reaches into his wallet and pulls out the only picture in it. It’s Beth. The only girl he ever really cared for. How ironic it is that she’s suddenly back in his life but seemingly further away than ever. He stares at the picture and sighs at the ridiculous random nature of things.

  A beep on the monitor behind him breaks his attention from the picture. He glances over his shoulder and sees an entry that’s blinking on the screen. He turns to address the console directly. He flips on the lights and his eyes widen. Holy shit. “What the fuck?” he delightfully exclaims. They got a fusing reaction from Zinc Beryllium Silicate. Jack types feverishly as the printers spring to life behind him. Data spits out of the printer. Jack eyeballs it. He’s never seen anything like it before. And he’s pretty sure nobody else has either. Perhaps this is not as much of a disaster as he thought. Jack will work all through the night analyzing the data.

  As the sun peeks through the blinds to welcome in the morning, Beth strolls through the lab entrance. Hair still wet from her shower she slows her pace as she approaches Jack, who types at the console. Jack sees her behind him. “Good, you’re here,” he exclaims. She stops next to him.

  “Weren’t you wearing that shirt yesterday?” she inquires. Jack doesn’t even hear the question. “You didn’t go home last night,” she continues. Jack stands up and looks at Beth with a huge grin. He suddenly grabs her and kisses her on the lips. Her eyes bulge with surprise and delight. She knows he kissed her for a reason, and she’s sure the reason’s important. But she enjoyed it all the same. “What?” she asks. Jack excitedly hands her a printout. The forward thinking move of kissing her hasn’t reached his brain yet, and no time to reflect at the moment, especially after pulling an all nighter.

  Beth reads the paper and her eyes widen slowly. “This doesn’t make any sense,” she concludes. Jack finishes the thought for her.

  “No results until it was exposed to Zinc Beryllium Silicate,” he says.

  “It fused? What does that even mean?” she probes. Jack types on a keyboard. The monitor flashes a three dimensional molecular model of the compound ZnMBe. Beth studies it in disbelief.

  “The bacteria fused itself to the compound. It’s a stable, bio-elemental compound,” Jack advises with confidence.

  “That’s not possible,” Beth concludes, her brain still trying to wrap itself around this crazy idea.

  “Wasn’t possible yesterday. It is today.” Jack shrugs with a cute little cockiness that he knows he’s on to something never before found. In his sleep deprived state he comes across a little like he’s drunk. Beth and Jack gaze at each other and then at the monitor. They are both aware that this is going to be a huge find. It’s both exciting and scary at the same time.

  CHAPTER 6

  Jack and Beth briskly enter Cliff’s office. It’s rather small by corporate standards. At fifteen feet long and twelve feet wide, it’s comfortable for Cliff. He doesn’t spend that much time in it anyway. He sits at a seven foot by four foot mahogany desk. Overkill for Cliff, but Rachel insisted. Two chairs rest in front of it, but it could easily hold three. A floor to ceiling bookshelf looms over the room on one side while the wall behind Cliff’s desk has a bay window overlooking the courtyard. The third wall has an entry to Med Lab. Cliff humorously thinks of it as “the escape hatch”.

  Cliff is on the phone behind his desk as Jack and Beth enter. Cliff doesn’t notice them and his phone is on speaker. “Hicks Pharmaceuticals has been an ally of The Barrister Institute since your work on elemental fusion efficiency was published ten years ago. That’s why Hicks has proudly continued support for your research. That’s why I don’t want to do this on the phone,” Logan summarizes. Cliff sighs. He so loathes having to play politics. Not only is it boring but it keeps h
im from doing what he loves. And Logan is just a hack anyway.

  “Alright, I’ll have Grace check my schedule,” Cliff says to placate Logan. Logan senses it of course.

  “I’ll see you soon,” he replies. Cliff takes his frustration out on the hang-up button.

  Beth clears her throat. Cliff looks up surprised. Jack and Beth stare at Cliff like they just made him breakfast in bed. “What?” Cliff inquires with a half smile.He knows that look and that’s almost always good news.

  “We need you to come to the lab. We have something to show you. Bring mom.” Beth smiles. Cliff rises in one motion from his chair as if lifted in zero gravity. He opens the door to Med Lab quickly.

  “Rachel. Come here. Beth has something to show us,” Cliff commands excitedly. Rachel stops what she’s doing, removes her lab coat and exits the Med Lab through Cliff’s office. They briskly walk out of the room and down the hall to the lab like they’re on their way to Christmas morning.

  “What’s going on?” Rachel asks.

  “We’ll show you,” Beth says smiling.

  They enter the lab and Jack brings them to the monitor with the compound and its data. Rachel and Cliff look the screen over carefully. “A bio-elemental compound?” Cliff asks with a dumbfounded look. He’s never seen anything like it, and that’s saying a lot. He looks at Rachel. Jack shakes his head yes like he nailed an answer on Jeopardy. Rachel shrugs her shoulders. Beth smiles. “You’re sure about this?” Cliff asks Jack.

  “Checked it three times,” Jack replies confidently with a smile.

  “I also checked it,” Beth continues matter-of-factly. Not that they don’t believe Jack, but couldn’t hurt that their daughter agrees. Cliff looks them over and shrugs his shoulders, giving them the why not gesture.