by Jack Wallen
There was a brief, and somewhat awkward, pause in the conversation as Sam turned a corner only to nearly run into the heart of another zombie mob. The car was quickly jerked into reverse and driven out of harm’s way.
It was Sellers who finally broke the silence. “So, Sam … what kind of tricks do you have up your sleeve?”
Sam looked to his feisty cohort and displayed a wicked grin. “Why Courtney, whatever do you mean?”
Sellers smacked the driver in the back of the head. “You son of a bitch, you know exactly what I mean!”
“Yeah Sam, you always have a trick or two in the old arsenal,” Dirt Bag chimed in.
As the car was about to speed through a four-way intersection another car came at them at top speed. Sam’s foot hit the brakes so hard the car spun one-hundred-eighty degrees and nearly tipped over. The mysterious car sped through the intersection, leaving Sam and company in a cloud of dust and floating debris.
“What the hell, Sam?” Ronald screamed.
“Another car! Another fucking car, with living and breathing mother fucking drivers! Did you get a look at them?” Dom yelled, almost in a panic.
“Sam… I know what you’re thinking. Leave it be,” Sellers threatened.
“Sorry, Courtney, I have to.”
Sam spun the car around and had it speeding off after the new player in the game of life and death. From the back seat Dom begged to know what was going on. No one dared answer. Dom repeated his question emphatically. Before Sam could open his mouth to speak a Screamer leaped onto the car and began the expected ritual of beating at the windshield. With each crunching impact, the glass threatened to crack. Without so much as a blink of an eye, Sam pulled out a pistol, reached his arm out of the window, and planted a bullet into the brain pan of the undead stowaway. The zombie instantly went limp and was thrown from the hood of the car.
With the view mostly clear, Sam was able to focus on his driving. Said renewed focus allowed Sam to slam down the gas pedal and speed forward.
It didn’t take long before the taxi caught up with the strangers’ car. Something didn’t seem right… almost as if the car intended Sam and company to catch up.
Sam pointed straight ahead at the car. “See those plates? Those are government issue. Whoever is in that car either stole it or… “
Sam went silent.
“Or what?” Dom prodded.
“Our dear friend Sam is a dyed-in-the-wool conspiracy theorist. Anytime he sees a government car he goes chasing like a hound dog on a hunt.” Sellers’s voice gave way to a slight embarrassment.
Sam juiced the car a little further, maxing out the car’s throttle. The taxi was inching closer and closer to the black sedan. “It’s not like that this time!”
The sedan found another gear and sped up, widening the distance between them. Again Sam goosed the engine to see if he could get a few more horses out of the stable. When it was clear the taxi wasn’t going to catch the government-issue sedan, Sam reached his pistol out the window, aimed, and pulled the trigger. No one knew what he was aiming for, but after the fourth shot the left rear tire blew out. Obviously the car wasn’t quite as government standard-issue as Sam thought.
The sedan swerved left and slammed into a fire hydrant hard enough to lodge the metal plug under the rear bumper and frame of the car. No matter how much gas the driver gave the car, the wheels just spun and smoked.
“I thought shit like that only happened in the movies!” Dom cried out.
Sam pulled the taxi around to block the mystery-mobile from pulling forward. Without their leader barking a single order, the soldiers all stepped out of the car, each aiming a weapon toward the sedan.
Eventually Sam stepped out, training his overly large handgun on the glass of the driver’s door.
Out of the car!” Sam barked.
Nothing happened.
“I said, out of the car!”
Again, nothing.
Sam smiled. He knew the lack of response was nothing more than a challenge. Sam loved a challenge. “Good. We do this the fun way. I count to three. If those doors aren’t opening and I don’t see unarmed hands raised, me and my boys Swiss Cheese this tin can.”
“One!”
Nothing.
“Two!”
No movement.
Just before Sam could take a breath for the third count, the sound of car doors unlocking tickled the air. One by one the doors opened and the ever clichéd ‘men in black’ stepped out of the vehicle.
Every gun locked onto a target.
The driver of the sedan spoke slowly, calmly. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Sam.”
“Fuck. He was right. It was a conspiracy,” Sellers exclaimed.
“It’s always a conspiracy,” Ronald chimed him.
Sam stepped forward and placed the barrel of his weapon on the forehead of the driver. “How do you know my name?”
The driver didn’t flinch. “We know everything, Sam.”
Anger was slowly bubbling up in Sam’s throat. “What have they done with Bethany?”
Sam’s question was met with silence.
The metal of the gun pressed harder into the forehead of the stranger. This time he flinched. From Sam’s perspective, he had the stranger exactly where he needed him – scared.
“We don’t have time to fuck around. Either you answer my questions or we start shooting. Your choice.”
Before an answer could be given, the sound of rage was heard. The noise was distant, but drawing closer.
“We don’t have much time. Either you tell us everything we want to know or we’ll all die here. What’s it going to be?” Sam pressed again.
A thunderous roar bounced off the nearby buildings and echoed into silence. “Get back in the taxi and follow us. We have information you need.” The stranger paused. “And we are in need of a favor.”
The driver pointed to two of the larger men in black and gestured them toward the rear of the car. The driver got back into the sedan, and with the help of his ‘muscle,’ rocked the car free from the hydrant. The goons got back in and the car slowly started pulling away.
Sam looked at his soldiers and nodded. No commands were necessary. Everyone slid back into their seats, closed their doors, and the taxi chased after the wounded car. The driving was slow, thanks to the ruined rear tire. Once everyone concluded they weren’t being led into a death trap, the silence was broken.
“Before anyone asks, I have no idea who those men are. I’ve never seen them and I have no clue as to how they knew my name,” Sam offered up the only facts he had.
“They look FBI, if you ask me,” Dirt Bag spat.
Sellers swung a punch into Dirt Bag’s arm. “DB, any man in a suit looks FBI to you.”
Ronald spoke up as one of the only voices of reason in the car. “Sam, do you think those guys are goons for The Collective?”
Dom had finally had enough living in ignorance about The Collective and voiced his frustration. Sam explained everything about the ZDC he knew which was, not surprisingly, quite a lot. The information Sam imparted unto Dom made it clear how deeply embedded they now were with the situation.
If there was any doubt left in anyone’s mind, that doubt washed away with full disclosure. “I now felt as much a part of this epic battle between evil, not-so-evil, and somewhat good,” exclaimed Dom. “The whole mess has my head spinning. I have a feeling the only remaining good left in the world was tied up somewhere in the UN building.”
The gang sat in silence as the taxi followed the hobbled sedan. When random zombies would attack either car it seemed both vehicles instantly turned insect-like with arms reaching out from every window to blast away the enemy. The undead didn’t have a chance in this chase. The aim was too good, the bullets too plentiful.
Finally both cars pulled up to an abandoned warehouse – the garage-type door standing wide open, beckoning the drivers into what safe haven may lay waiting.
“This shit’s gettin’ real,�
� Dom whispered to himself.
Chapter 16
Location unknown
November, 2014
“Can you see me clearly, Danielle?”
“Perfectly, Lindsay.”
The video conference was set up for encryption so that the two scientists could enjoy a level of privacy no longer afforded the common citizen. Their work, after all, was crucial for the next stage of human evolution.
“How is the sequence?” Dr. Godwin smiled.
Danielle paused, if only briefly, for brilliant effect. “The sequence completed. The second stage is done!” The professor beamed like a parent bragging about a child’s first step.
Lindsay returned the pride. “Fantastic. It should be near testing phase soon.”
There was another pause, this time filled with nervous suspense. Danielle broke the silence with the all-too-obvious next question. “And what about your work, Lindsay?”
Dr. Godwin hesitated, as if trying to let Danielle in on some secret he was afraid to reveal. This display surprised Professor Michaels. She knew the Quantum Fusion Generator was near completion and would soon enter the first of many testing phases.
Dr. Godwin looked away from the camera and spoke with what could only be shame. “The Generator will work and serve the purpose for which it was designed.”
Danielle knew Lindsay to the core. She knew how torn he was about the Generator, how the device could theoretically save the world, if used properly. Used improperly, the device could have quite an adverse effect. That was what Lindsay most feared. The Zero Day Collective had hired Lindsay for one very singular purpose, but they didn’t reveal that purpose until the doctor was deeply entrenched in the project.
That moment had passed.
“Danielle, they finally informed me of the goals they expected from the Generator.” Shame replaced fear in Lindsay’s voice, and Danielle heard it.
“What is it, Lindsay?”
“I can only tell you this – we need to get you inside of The Collective. I fear something tragic might possibly happen and… “ Doctor Godwin fell silent.
“And what, Lindsay?” The Professor urged.
Dr. Godwin’s eyes bore deeply into the camera, his voice a mere whisper. “If we can get you inside the ZDC the human race might stand a chance.”
The depth of the statement placed a temporary halt on all conversation and thought. Danielle knew Lindsay would not make such proclamations without having reason and fact to back them up. Speculation was not a familiar bedfellow to a man bound in absolute faith to fact.
“How do I – ” Danielle broke the silence, but was quickly interrupted.
“I have already given your name to a man on the Board of Directors. He will be contacting you to interview you for a position. You must accept this contract, no matter how loathsome their goals seem. Take the job with the understanding you will be doing everything you can to undermine their efforts,” Lindsay whispered quickly.
Danielle nodded. She knew she would follow Lindsay’s lead to the end of the world, so if the man asked her to dance with the Devil, she would polish up her tango and prepare for the worst.
The image of Dr. Godwin faded from the screen, but not from Danielle’s mind. Lindsay’s brilliant eyes and warm smile were permanently etched in the window to her soul.
Chapter 17
New York City, United Nations Building
December, 2015
“Get the fuck away from me with that needle, bitch, or, so help me God, I will chew through your neck until I have your jugular between my teeth,” Bethany spat angry words in my face.
This was the moment I felt a deeper truth was warranted. But if I were to allow that truth a voice, the chances of my work surviving were nil. So, I went about my duties in silence. How much longer I could keep that silence up, I had no idea.
In the hypodermic I held the first of the infected serum from the oldest surviving specimen in my collection. Although the physical defects were not nearly as severe as some of the later attempts, the mental capacity of this creature was about as baseline as a functioning being could be without diving into a vegetative state.
I held the syringe aloft, the metal gleaming in the bright surgical light, and tapped any remaining air to the top. When Bethany saw the needle about to plunge into her arm, she unleashed her rage.
“So help me, when I get out of this I am going to make sure you suffer.” Her body thrashed about as she screamed.
With her body flailing about on the bed, it was impossible to administer the injection. I had no choice but to further restrain the girl.
“Please don’t do this to me,” Bethany cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks. “If you only knew what I’ve sacrificed. Please, I beg you, let me live.”
When I looked down at the patient she caught a glimpse of compassion that fought my resolve and made it to the surface. No matter how hard I tried to push it back down, it forced its way up.
“What? Tell me… please! You know something. Oh God, lady, please.” Bethany was nearing hysterics.
“You will be fine Bethany. I won’t allow anything to happen to you. That is all I can say.”
My comforting tone soothed the girl enough so that I could complete the injection. We were nearly nose to nose and she stared deep into my eyes, deeper than anyone had ever dared.
Before the girl could break through any further, I left the room. She had more information than necessary, but what exactly could she do with it while isolated? At best it would offer her comfort enough to bolster her strength. At worst it would drive her mad with the desire to know more. Either way, I felt fairly certain that what happened would not cause any noticeable ripples in the waters of The Collective. The only real problem was the hit my own psyche was taking. At the moment what Bethany Nitshimi was being subjected to made me feel like nothing more than a terrorist. There was little doubt the young woman felt she was being tortured. What she didn’t know… well, suffice it to say the human race wouldn’t stand a chance without her.
Back in my office, the feed from Bethany’s room displayed no change. The tears had evolved into gasps and her eyes, still red, stared toward the ceiling, lost and empty.
There was, however a silver lining in this tear-stained cloud. Bethany was showing no signs of change. The infection pumped into her body would have already amplified a non-immunized human. This early victory gave me hope my hypothesis was valid. The baby, growing within this woman, was completely and utterly immune to the virus. This was the ultimate proof I needed that mankind did have one last hope.
I wanted to continue watching the theatre of humanity unfolding, but I had far too much work for such indulgences.
*
“What have you done to Bethany and Michelle?” Jean spat his question with as much anger as his weakened body could muster.
“They are in rooms and situations much like yours.” I wanted to let him know they were still alive, but no more. Like the others, Jean had to remain oblivious to what was really going on.
When the syringe came out of hiding Jean nearly panicked.
“What are you going to do with that?” Jean’s pulse skyrocketed.
I had to get this over with quickly before his vitals raised red flags. This particular injection was not part of any plan The Board knew of. This was my plan. This was my work.
“You’re a doctor, Jean. I believe you can figure that one out.”
The beeping of the monitors continued to sound off Jean’s escalating heart rate. This was not going as planned.
“Yes, but what is it?”
If I told Jean what the vial contained, would he believe me? Given his current situation I was guessing he would assume every word out of my mouth was a lie, and he would panic. I couldn’t risk the monitoring station suspecting something was amiss. I had to get this injection into Jean, now.
“Jean, listen to me. Do not repeat a word of what you are about to hear. You have already been injected with the first
stage of a vaccination I have been working on for much of my career. This is the second stage of that vaccine. If this works I will have everything I need to create a vaccine to stop this plague. Don’t worry, even if the vaccine fails there will be no side effects.”
I spoke as softly and quickly as I could. The man hung onto every word. In his eyes I could see the signs of distrust washing away. My words were not lies, he knew… but there was something else keeping him from completely believing my story.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Truth? Okay… I wasn’t lying about the vaccination. As to the side effects? I really have no way of knowing, as this portion of the experiment has yet to be tested.”
“I’ve already been vaccinated! And we’ve tested our vaccine with success. Surely you know this. You seem to know more about us than we you,” Jean spat.
“Yes, we followed you. But we don’t know everything… only what Bethany chose to make public.”
“Then you know Bethany cracked the Mengele file and within that file were clues to the vaccine and a possible cure. That vaccine flows through my veins.”
I wasn’t sure how to react to this new information. Yes, I knew Bethany had created a vaccine, but no… I was not aware they had tested their serum. I was at a crucial point. Did I let Jean in on my little secret, or did I begin piling up the lies now?
I opted for the truth, my truth… couched in a light blanket of falsehood. I let him know of the Heizer Sequence and how it could bond together cells that would normally reject one another. I filled Jean in on my findings with the experiments and how their DNA had reacted so far to my testing. What I didn’t tell Jean was my plan to create and release the vaccination and cure. There was no way those words were going to spill from my lips – not with The Board potentially listening to my every word. There were simple truths I could reveal without risking danger. The easiest to reveal was that their cure would mostly likely fail. Without the Heizer Sequence there was no way the virus could be stopped from mutating the infected DNA.