The Loki Variation

by James Riley, Sabrina

  After what seemed like forever, the Mauler was able to pick up speed, and the noises were beginning to level off. The windshield cleared, although it was covered in blood, the path ahead became visible. They had been heading towards the water, and Hud pulled around in a large circle, never slowing, to keep the remaining monsters that were chasing them at a distance.

  Looking in the side mirrors, Hud and Derek could see that the amount of them left chasing them was still staggering. They were weak, though, blinded by the bright sun and weakened by starvation. They could not catch up to the Mauler, as it headed in the opposite direction.

  “Where are you going?” Derek asked, unsure of Hud’s next move.

  Hud looked over at Derek, back at Sasha, and then out the front window again.

  “To a cabin in North Carolina.” He answered.

  Sunday, November 9, 2008

  Untitled.

  I apologize for how long it’s been since I posted. A lot has happened, and when I came back to update, I had to delete a lot of comments. Apparently, it is still held as a belief that what is being done at the lab is somehow a direct insult to God or Allah or whichever Creator you believe I have offended. Even if some of the comments were not what you would call civil, I will respond to them with how I reconcile my beliefs and my work.

  I believe in a Creator. I’m not going into details, everyone is allowed to believe what they want. But my belief is that whatever Creator put us here gave us the ability and these tools to do what we are doing. This is an effort to move His creations forward, to help them. I don’t see any wrong in that. I understand this is a controversial subject, messing with the very ingredients that make up every living creature. However, it’s being done to help us along to the day that sicknesses and suffering no longer plague us.

  Modifying genes, even in parasites, to do something beneficial is nothing all that new. Look up the Phorid flies. They are basically a parasite that was already in existence, but changed to keep the population of fire ants in the U.S. under control. If you think that is messing with nature or going against the wishes of a Creator, please realize that the fire ants were not indigenous to the area, and were accidentally introduced by humans. It messed up the ecosystem, and it was the fault of man, so isn’t it man’s responsibility to correct his mistake? So we are.

  This is all I am going to say on the subject. I will immediately delete any posts having to do with this debate, whether it’s for it or against it. This was not the reason I created this blog. I want to share the experience and knowledge I gain, and if that is what you came here for, then by all means, thank you.

  It is early in the morning and I have to leave. I wish I had enough time to go into the updates, but that will have to wait until I get home.

  Again, thank you.

  Posted by Sanjeev at 6:31 AM

  Chapter 23.

  Hud drove toward the entrance to the base, while Derek explained why he had planned to leave. Hud seemed incredulous, like it had been totally obvious to him that the four of them were going to either stay or go as a team.

  “For all we know, we are the only ones left. We haven’t heard from anyone since this all started. We can’t split up, that would be the worst thing to do.” Hud said, looking at Derek like he was crazy.

  “I really just thought I was in your way. Both of you.” Derek answered, and Hud snorted and shook his head.

  “Look man, I’m just trying to survive. So are you. And them,” He jerked his head back towards Sasha and Nora, who were sitting in the bench seat behind them. “If we have a better chance somewhere else, let’s go. This place is getting worse every day.”

  As if arranged by some cosmic force, intending to prove Hud’s point, the vehicle rolled past a small drainage ditch. It was filled with bodies. Sasha looked away, and Hud pointed to the parking lot ahead on the road that led to the base’s gate.

  “Is that where his truck is?” He asked. Derek nodded and after a few moments, when the Mauler was as close as it could get to the truck, Derek got out and ran towards it. Hud stood guard with his gun at the passenger door. Derek came back, holding the manila envelope and the contents he had left on the seat when he was startled by Sasha earlier in the day. He rifled through until he found the building permit, and handed it to Hud.

  Hud and Derek were trying to figure out how they were going to get the Mauler off base. The Mauler could easily push the cars out of the way, but Hud reminded them that they might be using the vehicle for a shelter, and that they should preserve it as much as possible. They would have to move cars, they agreed. Sasha suggested they break windows, put the cars into neutral and just push them.

  Hud drove the Mauler towards one of the lanes that came through, usually guarded by military police checking identification.

  “That’s where I came through.” Sasha pointed. There was only 2 cars blocking the lane. Sasha stood guard right outside the Mauler with her dad’s shotgun while Derek and Hud went to see if they could move the cars. Derek used the butt of his handgun to shatter the driver’s side window on the closest one, unlocked it and set the stick shift into neutral. He pushed backwards with his feet, steering, while Hud pushed on the hood. The car easily rolled backwards and into the wider road in front of the Mauler. The second car was a little less cooperative, it was wedged up against the concrete building the MPs sat in, thanks to Sasha’s entrance a week earlier. They got it moved, enough to let the Mauler out, and returned to the vehicle.

  Sasha let Hud and Derek enter the Mauler, and she began to climb in right behind Derek. That’s when she noticed the blood seeping through his dark gray tee shirt, where it was torn on his shoulder.

  “Derek. You’re bleeding!” She said, beginning to panic. He turned to look at her, and she realized that he had not known he was injured. With a sudden urgency, Derek pulled his shirt off, Hud watching carefully and Sasha holding her breath.

  His skin was torn, near his collarbone. There were jagged edges, not clean like a cut. They all knew immediately that he had been bitten by one of the zombies he had saved Sasha from. Derek’s face went white.

  “Okay, don’t freak out yet, Derek.” Sasha was coaching, but she was just as petrified as he was. How long until the seizures start? Hud, with a look on his face that might resemble sympathy, came forward.

  “Derek, you’ve been bit. I don’t know how this stuff works, but I’m going to have to restrain you until we are sure you aren’t dangerous.” Derek was taken aback by Hud’s suddenly authoritative posture. Derek remained silent, but nodded his head. Sasha had already retrieved her alcohol and peroxide, and Hud stood very close as she covered the open wound with the disinfectants. The sting of the alcohol didn’t even register to Derek. No one said a word afterwards, while Derek put his shirt back on. Hud followed Derek to the back of the Mauler, and used a thick nylon rope to secure Derek’s hands and feet to the bench seat along the side of the interior. He padded Derek’s wrists and ankles with extra clothing, trying to be as humane as possible.

  “Sorry, Derek.” He said. Derek shook his head, pulling instinctively against the ropes, but it was futile. Derek was not able to accept the fact that he was about to become one of them.

  “Hud, if I change-“ he began. Hud was already aware of what he was going to say. He put his hand on the pistol that was tucked into his pants.

  “Quick and painless. I promise. ” Hud said. He waited a moment, unsure of what to say next, and then headed back to the front seat.

  Sasha was unable to control her tears. Nora had figured out what had happened, and was crying as well. Ripley sat near Derek, absorbing the emotions and keeping her head low. Sasha pulled the bottle of sedatives out of her bag. Between tears, she held the bottle up to Derek and said,

  “I still have these. They will make you go to sleep. I don’t want you to take them, I want to believe you aren’t going to change, but it’s not my decision.” She let him see the label on the bottle and when he looked back at her, his eyes w
ere swirling with emotions. He wanted to say thank you, and I’m sorry, and please don’t give up on me, all at the same time. Instead he just clenched his jaw.

  Sasha wrapped her fingers around the bottle, enclosing it in her fist, and continued.

  “Just say the word, Derek. I’ll help you take them if you need to.” She forced herself to stop looking at his eyes, and sat down next to him on the bench, shaking as she leaned into him. Nora huddled in the floor in front of Sasha, shoulders shaking and periodically looking up at Derek with red, wet eyes.

  Ripley lied beside Derek, head resting on his feet. He wanted to pet her, to comfort her, but he couldn’t move. He let his head hang forward, eyes closed, thinking about his life. He pictured his mother, his stepdad, and the handful of people who had brought meaning into his life. He thought about all the things he had wanted to accomplish, but hadn’t. Then he thought about Sasha. Even though he could feel her warm body right next to him, he felt like she was gone, and he replayed his few memories of her over and over until he became unaware of time passing. After a length of time he couldn’t measure, he felt a sharp tingling sensation in the back of his head and opened his eyes. It was too late, he had lost control of his own body.

  Sasha was jolted by Derek’s sudden movement, and Nora began screaming. Sasha’s eyes moved instantly to Derek. He was lurching in the bench, head snapping wildly.

  “No!” She yelled, and Hud slammed on the brakes. Sasha jumped up to help him, but a sharp warning from Hud reminded her of the situation, and she backed up. She had never felt more helpless than she did right then, standing just out of arms reach of Derek, holding onto the trembling shoulders of sobbing Nora, watching as he convulsed violently.

  Hud was watching from the front seat. As Derek’s movements calmed, Hud rose and moved in front of the girls, pistol already in his hand. Derek was motionless for a quite a few moments, breathing deeply and hoarsely. Sasha felt time slow down as Derek’s head began to raise.

  Derek was lost. He was trying to remember where he was, and why he couldn’t move. His head felt heavy, and it was throbbing. Something was roaring in his ears, deafening him. His eyes were burning and it was hard to force them to open. He tried again to move, but something was holding his arms down. The roaring sound was resonating in his head, making him nauseous. He concentrated on lifting his head, it felt so heavy, and then suddenly he jerked it upwards with a renewed energy.

  Hud and Sasha were right there, looking frightened and apprehensive. As soon as he made eye contact with Nora, she screamed and hid her face behind Sasha. The sound of her screaming made him waver, and he felt like he was going to lose consciousness if he didn’t move. He was about to pull against the restraints again, when he heard a gun cock, so loud it sounded like it was being pushed through a rock concert amplifier. He flinched and looked up to see the barrel of Hud’s gun pointed at his head.

  “No!” Sasha screamed again, pulling on Hud’s arm. “Wait! Wait, please!” She was begging.

  Hud still had the gun pointed at Derek’s head, and Derek was remembering the bite, the blood, and realized that he was missing time. Hadn’t Sasha just been sitting next to him? He could hear everything in the Mauler. He could hear Nora’s sobbing as if she were screaming. He could hear Hud’s rough breathing.

  The light. That’s why his eyes wouldn’t open wider. It was too bright. He lowered his head and felt another surge of energy. He pulled lightly on the restraints again, and this time he could move, the restraints had not even resisted. He looked at his wrists, he had just snapped the nylon rope like it was thread.

  In shock, he looked up to Hud, who was taking a step back, still aiming at Derek’s head.

  “Hud. I’m still me.” He said, putting up his hands. His own voice boomed in his head, and he grimaced.

  Sasha and Nora became totally silent, although Derek was certain he could hear their hearts pounding. Hud was inspecting Derek, studying his every minute move. Derek kept his hands up, and looked towards Nora and Sasha. The glare of the sun was everywhere, he could not make out clear lines, but Sasha was frozen, hoping against hope.

  “It’s me. Something’s different, but I’m still me.” He said, quietly. He remained seated, arms raised until Hud was convinced that he was not going to jump up and attack. As soon as Hud lowered the weapon, Sasha was on her knees in front of Derek.

  “Derek! You had a seizure. Your eyes are so black, you look like one of them. Are you okay?” She was flustered and her words had come out as one sentence.

  Derek grimaced again, squinting to block out the painful light. His nostrils were filled with the smell of iron and salt. He had an almost uncontrollable urge to flex every part of his body, he noticed his legs were shaking. His calves were contracting.

  “I feel weird. Everything is so loud. I keep getting waves of energy, like a caffeine high, just way stronger.” He said. His words didn’t quite express what he was trying to convey, but hearing those words was enough for Sasha. She leaped up and threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

  Derek was still in shock, he was still trying to deal with the sensory overload several minutes later. He was describing his symptoms to Hud and Sasha. Everything he said sounded so bizarre, even to him, even though he was experiencing it. He could hear everything, and he could feel his muscles wanting to work. His heart was pounding and his limbs were shaking, but he didn’t feel weak or dizzy. Smells were overpowering his nose; sweat and motor oil and new plastic and sweetness. His eyes were dilated to the point of near blindness in the light, but a pair of Hud’s sunglasses had quickly eased that problem. He felt heavy and light at the same time, like he could leap into the air and fly or land so hard on the earth he could crack it.

  Between the three adults, they came to an agreement on a theory. Whatever had caused all those people to go crazy must have been a virus. If Derek had been infected, he must be partially immune or maybe the virus was weakening, or mutating. As unsettling as the idea was, Derek had to admit it sounded much better than becoming a blood thirsty zombie-like human, he couldn’t stomach the thought of hurting Sasha or Nora.

  Derek remained in the back of the Mauler, with Sasha and Nora when Hud went back up to continue driving. The day was wearing on, and they hadn’t made very much progress. Derek was in awe of the way he could hear, even from the distance, he could easily make out Hud’s breathing and he could hear the mechanical sounds of the engine of the Mauler working. He explained to Sasha again, trying to relate it as well as possible.

  “It’s like everything is turned up. I can smell the blood on my shirt. I can smell you. Sounds too, I have to sort out all the sounds, and a lot of them I don’t even recognize.” He was stumbling over words, but getting his point across.

  “Can you hear anything outside?” Sasha asked.

  Derek was silent for a minute, concentrating on the flood of sounds entering his ears. He sorted out the sounds coming from Nora and Sasha, their hearts, their breathing. He sorted out the rhythmic panting of his dog, and the jittering of the contents of the Mauler as it bounced along the shoulder of the Interstate. He focused on a sound that he couldn’t identify, and after thinking for a moment, he realized he was hearing the compression of the air between metal as the Mauler passed other cars on the Interstate. He could hear the sound bouncing back against the other cars, then fade as they were left behind them.

  “Yes. I can hear us passing cars.” He said, flexing his hands.

  “Are you hurting?” Sasha asked when she noticed his fingers opening and closing.

  “No, it’s like every muscle in my body wants me to move. I have never felt like this, but it’s like I have to keep telling myself to sit still.”

  Sasha kept her eyes on him, and then realized he was taking in short, shallow breaths through his nose.

  Sasha had been trying to add up his symptoms. She had a good sized knowledge of common illnesses, but this was not one of them. It sounded more like the reaction of a drug, s
ome amphetamine. She remembered that was exactly what she had thought the first time she had witnessed one of the zombies. Nora’s mother, wild and moving impossibly lithely for a human being.

  She reached for his hands, and he let her take hold of them. She could feel them shaking, and squeezed them, a cross between reassurance and hoping to help ease the tension in them. Derek squeezed back. He just wanted to let her know he understood her concern and appreciated her. However, she sucked in a quick, sharp breath and Derek froze.

  “Derek, you’re hurting me.” She said quickly. He released his light squeeze, and Sasha jerked her hands back, looking at them. Her fingers were pasty white, at first, then quickly became a warm red as the blood rushed back into them. She looked back up at Derek as she wrung her hands out.

  “I’m sorry, Sasha. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know I was squeezing that hard.” Derek said, ashamed and confused. He thought about the ropes he had snapped like they were nothing, and now he had almost broken Sasha’s hands with hardly any pressure. He looked around him, quickly and picked up a large screwdriver that was sitting on top of a box of tools that Hud had collected. He held the handle with one hand, and with the other, pushed on the steel of the screwdriver. It curved under his fingers, like he was bending a strip of plastic. He stared in disbelief, and held the screwdriver up to show Sasha, although she had watched the whole thing.

  The screwdriver was destroyed. The steel portion of it was twisted so that the working end of it was pointed down towards the handle. Both Sasha and Derek sat for a moment, trying to make sense of this sudden change, an almost superhuman power. Nora was watching too, eyes large, mouth open. She couldn’t look Derek in the eyes, Sasha knew she couldn’t stand to see those swirling black pupils.