do the samples have to be taken forcefully?”
“Professor Orliz didn’t inform you, did he? I suppose not, too many ears on campus. Well you see, rook, we aren’t working on a vaccine to help people. We’re more working on a vaccine to protect people.”
“I don’t get it. What do you mean?”
“Well, a few decades ago, we started getting visitors and these visitors brought things with them--unpleasant things. So we are actually trying to get rid of the visitors.”
“Visitors?” I was still lost. Mr. Lamson’s foot twitched. “Like parasites?”
“This vaccine saves people from an invasive virus called Muldig. The Muldig started coming here as refugees after the intergalactic war and along with them came AIDS, Syphilis, tuberculosis--you name it, they brought it. The only way to really rid the world of these terrible diseases is to end the source.”
“How does the vaccine work?” I asked. Mr. Lamson’s head shifted. The bleeding seemed to have stopped.
“When we find out our vaccine works, it will be mixed in with all the bottled water and milk supplies around the world. All Muldig will die quickly from it.”
I swallowed a lump. Global mass murder? How is this really saving anyone? These people are okay with mass murder and, looking at Mr. Lamson, at violent beatings of Americans? Where will it end? I had a sinking feeling that if their experiment were successful, they wouldn’t stop with the Muldig. These people will always find a new ‘pest’ to deal with. When did I sign on with the devil?
Mr. Lamson suddenly bolted upright and threw my mentor against the wall. His head hit hard and he slumped to the floor. Then he turned to me. I backed up with wide eyes and open palms. He had every right to be angry. I just hoped he wouldn’t take it out on me.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lamson. Really, I didn’t know what they were doing.” I tried to calm him as I continued stepping back. “I’m really sorry for everything. I’ll help you get out. That’s the best I can offer. Okay? I’ll help you escape.” My last sentence came out more like a squeaky question than a statement. I couldn’t help it.
Mr. Lamson did calm at the same moment he collapsed to the floor. I kneeled next to him. His eyes softened looking at me and his breathing slowed. He looked around and stared at my mentor motionless on the floor. Turning back to me he said, “I don’t know if I can move. What do you people think you’re doing, killing aliens? Are you some crazed extremist group? You can’t just kidnap people off the streets and torture them into submitting for tests. So many laws were broken here, I could take you guys to the cleaners with my lawyer.” He sighed heavily. There was a long road ahead before that could happen. “I don’t...I don’t know if I’ll make it out of here. I was on my way home from work with flowers for my daughter. It’s her birthday. And I...I.” Mr. Lamson started tearing up as he reached for the back of his head. I had to fight back my own tears. “I’m seeing three of everything.”
“I’m sorry. I really had no idea,” I said, mostly for self-preservation. “I’ll get you out of here. You can see her again. Just let me help you up.”
“Here kid, if I don’t make it out, find her. Sarah. Find her.” He handed me a bent photo from his back pocket. A beautiful brunette of about eighteen smiled back at me. I put it in my coat pocket.
“I will,” I said.
I cautiously lifted the weakened man with blood congealed around his head and he shuffled slowly behind me through the small hall, through the small room with the one-way glass, and into the bright hallway. The guards were still missing, or at least hiding near the exit.
“The guards got you at the exit last time, let’s go another way.”
“Are you sure, boy?”
“Yeah, Mr. Lamson,” I said.
“Doug,” Mr. Lamson said. “Call me Doug.”
I smiled at him while wondering what was going to happen to me for helping him. Maybe they wouldn’t care, since I did get the six vials. We started down the hall in the opposite direction of the front door and looked for lit exit signs. Mr. Lamson, I mean Doug, followed on my heels.
After a few sharp turns I found a bright exit sign pointing to freedom.
“This way, see!” I didn’t hear Doug’s footfalls behind me so I turned, just on time to see two guards in-coming from behind him with their batons at the ready.
“Watch out!” I shouted, but it was too late. They bashed him good in the same damaged spot. It was hopeless this time around. They dragged him back to the room we left and where my mentor waited. He was clearly annoyed with me, but perked up when he saw his incapacitated subject returned to him.
“Good work boys,” he said. On the wall next to him a tray slid out where the blood-filled vials were placed. Pages of papers printed off from a narrow slot in the wall and my mentor removed them. He read them hungrily and smiled.
“Ok, take this one out. Our work here is done.”
The two guards picked up Mr. Lamson and dragged his body out. I never saw him again.
My mentor said, “Well, I guess that was either a success or a failure. Depends on how you look at it.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“We won’t waste time processing his blood. He was Muldig.”
I finished my shift that evening as a dutiful intern and never returned.
I know I’m being hunted by the Department of Homeland Security. I have valuable information. You now have valuable information. I just hope someone, anyone, will believe my story. That’s where you come in. Spread the word of truth to warn the Muldig.
For now I spend my time searching for Sarah.
END
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About Stephanie Flynn
Stephanie Flynn is the author of the young adult novel Taming the Iris as well as a slew of science fiction short stories and poetry slowly being added to tabs above. She lives in Michigan with her children and husband. When she’s not glued to her computer, she’s inhaling books about words, books about novels, books about publishing and a little bit of everything else: chick lit, horror, science fiction, fantasy, and the classics. She gravitates toward writing thrillers and romance novels; sometimes both inside one cover, and science fiction short stories.
On the odd day Michigan has warm weather, her family enjoys kayaking, biking, rollerblading, and walking in the parks.
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