The Infected 3: Cast Iron

by P. S. Power

  Most Infected didn’t have some kind of incredible power though, did they? Just emotional issues with no real benefit or payoff. That this guy managed to keep a job and even do well in it either meant he managed his first mode pretty well most days. That or the police had a high tolerance for certain negative emotions than most work places did. Either way, it seemed to be working out for the guy.

  He growled at her and curled his lip more, but turned and waved everyone back.

  “This is a crime scene. Move back. Get everyone back. We’re on the perimeter. No one comes or goes without our say so. No one gets in without it being cleared by me personally.” It was a slightly odd way of doing things, but Marcia could work with it. True, not everyone would have their ID on them, but as soon as they were cleared, most of her people needed to get back to the show and then the picnic. They weren’t cancelling that just because her old buddies were dead on the floor.

  Morons. What the hell had Morris been thinking? Why call her in, Lancaster and Reyes too, if they were actually involved in something? Wouldn’t it have been safer to just do whatever they were doing? If the CIA guy hadn’t been jerking her around that thing they were doing might be linked to a coup or assassinating President Lawrence. Was the man even going to be in the area any time soon though? Marcia didn’t have the whole schedule in her head or anything, but she didn’t think so.

  What did that leave then?

  She had an odd feeling it was mainly about getting her and the guys out of the way. But why bother? Did they think that she’d have some sort of special ability to thwart an assassination attempt? It wasn’t even her job to try. Not really. She’d have been back at the base running drills right then, if Morris hadn’t called her in.

  Safe and monitored the whole time.

  Crap.

  “This is a set-up.” She muttered the words out loud, and only Brian seemed to hear her, but he looked away and started to nod slowly.

  “Yeah, that sounds about right. Braid then? It kind of has that feel.”

  It did, but that wouldn’t matter. They needed to stop the plan, whatever it was, and at the same time show that they weren’t responsible for it. That was the most likely part of all this, Marcia figured, pieces coming together solidly, all at once.

  “We’re not being tracked as closely as normal right now, which means that whatever they have planned might just be pinned on us. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen. How though? We could all go back to the base, but if we do that, then we have almost no chance to stop whatever it is that might be happening.” Not as easily at least.

  Brian had an idea.

  “Get Charlot to handle it. She can put together a documentary or something, which would put us all on camera almost all the time for the next week. Then if anything happens we’ll have video proof of our alibis. Well, everyone here except me, I mean. My power means that I could be anywhere and back before it gets noticed, but everyone else should be covered.” He shrugged and looked around, but clearly couldn’t find the PR lady.

  It was a plan though. They were all IPB, except Warren and really, private contractor or not, he lived with the same rules they all did, which meant surveillance twenty-four hours a day when on the base. They were watched in bed, in the showers and even on the toilet. No one was going to scream about having some cameras watching them now. The only difference here being that it wasn’t just a random precaution. They had a real reason to do it this time. It was about protecting themselves and the people around them.

  That would have to wait though. The crime scene work took a lot longer than it should have, since the local guys from the IPB didn’t really know most of them, recognizing only Prime, Proxy and Lady Glory right off the bat. The famous kids as far as an agent was concerned, which meant they missed her totally, even though she was their boss. After a few minutes they seemed to get who Lancaster was too, since he was pretty high up in the organization on their side of things, but that just meant they went extra slow, methodically taking down all the statements by hand, trying to make sure they didn’t mess anything up. Then, before they really got finished, DHS showed up and the whole thing had to be gone over again. The FBI still wasn’t there, but the ATF did show up, since Morris didn’t have a license for the weapon he was carrying. Harpo did, which was pretty scary to Marcia’s mind.

  That meant he either didn’t think he’d be shooting anyone illegally, which meant he was killed when he didn’t need to be, weapon still undrawn, or he really didn’t think it would matter in the end. A suicide mission. Probably not this part of things though, since between him and Cal they should have had Wilson dead to rights. Really, they probably would have, if they’d wanted him actually dead. The idea was one that she kept to herself for the time being.

  After all, Penny didn’t know that, and she’d just been following orders. Casting doubt on her kills now would serve only to hurt her future ability to act as a shooter at need. It felt a little cold blooded, but Marcia knew that having the girl able to kill on demand was a much bigger asset than having her old buddies alive was. Especially if they’d turned on their country like it seemed they might have. If they were innocent, well, Penny still didn’t need to know that, did she? The men were already gone and she really needed to feel good about it. Or at least like she’d done the right thing. It was crucial at this stage of her development.

  It was seven before they were let go, and that soon only because they were all staying in one convenient location for the week. The cake contest had been pushed back a bit, so that they could all attend, and that meant they’d be having dinner on the beach in the dark if they didn’t hurry things along. They could have gone to the restaurant, but Tobin kept shaking his head and Warren looked about ready to slap someone if they suggested it. It had been a lot of work getting everything put together after all and would probably hurt the little guys feelings if they skipped the picnic he’d packed up.

  Marcia wanted to stand around shaking her head the whole time too, so instead sat in the audience with everyone else, a scantly filled room as far as bodies went, with their people being about half those attending. Marcia tried to clap when it was needed, smiling as she could for the cameras. She was next to Bridget on one side and had Brian on the other, which meant they could whisper a little between scenes. The whole “contest” was being taped, and that meant it went way slower than a real event would have, lights and cameras being re-set occasionally. They even did multiple takes when lines got flubbed.

  The judges for it were some other cooking show people she didn’t recognize, a good looking woman that seemed to be suffering, incongruently enough, from anorexia, and a man with an abrasive New Jersey accent that instantly got on her nerves. They were both dressed like chefs, in white smocks and different little hats. The last judge was a celebrity of some kind. From his good looks and easy going manner he was probably on a real television program that had nothing to do with food at all. Marcia just sat and waited for them to make whatever judgments they were going to.

  There were six cakes in all, and they looked good. All of them. The Cake Kings weren’t called that because they sucked at it apparently. It was close, but if she were going to be honest, they’d probably have won at least two of the three sections. The wedding cake that Mark and Warren had put together was better than the others, but one of the fantasy versions the other team had done was so good that even Mark just chuckled when he saw it and applauded, conceding that one without even seeming worried about it.

  The judges felt the same way she did.

  That part was fine, and she waited for it all to finish, but apparently they needed reactions from the contestants and the audience before they’d be allowed to leave. Because that made sense. Everyone would want to know how she felt about the made up contest that didn’t mean anything, wouldn’t they? Finally they got to her, just going down the line, covertly skipping Lauren and Peggy, but asking Tobin what he thought first. He was enthusiastic and confident, thanks to
Denis helping him out. To her it was obvious, but no one else seemed to get it, except Brian, who watched both of them closely.

  “They were all wonderful. I have to say I didn’t envy the judges, having to choose between them. Of course I was probably a bit biased, being friends with everyone on Steinberg and Friends, but the Cake Kings did a fantastic job today.” Helpfully he looked at Marcia and smiled, one of his huge ones that looked decidedly nonhuman.

  “Marcia, what did you think?” That got all the cameras except one to focus on her almost instantly. That one just kept covering the cakes.

  “I agree. It makes you wonder why the Cake Kings producer kept sending in poor Carlos to try and sabotage the work being done by Steinberg and Friends. It was a fair enough contest. Oh, sure, the Cake Kings got to come prepared for it, while Mark and Warren had only about sixteen hours to get ready, but that’s the nature of the business, isn’t it? You don’t always get to prepare ahead of time.” She didn’t mean anything by it, but the blond man with glasses that was hosting the program walked over and held his microphone out for her, a serious look on his face, almost as if the silly contest really meant something to him.

  “Are you saying you think the contest was rigged?” For a few seconds the man sounded legitimately worried as if that would be something that might actually happen.

  “What? No, not at all. There was a difference in preparation time, but that doesn’t mean it was fixed. I’m not exactly sure why it wasn’t mentioned earlier, but Mark and Warren are great under pressure. As long as Scott and Denis aren’t put in as contestants, I’m sure the rest of whatever comes will be fine too. That would be funny though. Watching those two scramble around trying not to set the kitchen on fire, I mean.” She meant it as a joke, but the man with the mic went wide eyed.

  “Ohhh. I think I have an idea. Let’s set that up? Have the junior members from each show on the network compete? I need to get with…” He wondered off, most of the cameras following along.

  Two stayed though, one on her, one on Denis as Scott moved in alongside him, smiling. Prime spoke first, patting Denis on the back.

  “I’m sure we’ll win. After all, I’m on the team. Between the two of us, I doubt that anyone will be able to stop us.” He sounded so confident it was annoying, but that’s what the man did. He couldn’t really help it.

  Denis could.

  “Thanks Marcia. Just so you know, I’m recruiting you into this too. If I have to look bad in front of the whole nation it’s only fair that you do too.” He smiled though, playing to the cameras easily. Then, he was a television personality, wasn’t he?

  She wasn’t, but that didn’t get to be pointed out before Charlot Chambers spoke.

  “Excellent! We’ll put it all on camera then, as a documentary. A behind the scenes type of thing to show the folks back home. Our home movie of what we did on vacation.” She continued with her idea, which was actually Brian’s she told them, which got everyone to shut up about the invasion of privacy instantly.

  Everyone liked him after all. The ones that knew him at least. It was an effect he had on people.

  She nodded as if considering it for the first time. It might actually be a part of his ability. Not everyone instantly loved him, but everyone kind of liked him, eventually. He was nice enough, but a little dark at times anymore, but that just made people trust him more. At the IPB at least. Thinking about it things kind of came together. The people he needed, or more correctly, that his power needed… They all liked him. Most of the other people were hit or miss. That could have just been him though too. She’d have to watch for it and see if there were real signs of anything there.

  “That’s a good idea. Let’s try it out and see how it works? The IPB can’t be hurt by showing how we’re just like everyone else, can we?” She smiled, as if that wouldn’t backfire horribly.

  They could take things out in editing though, if they didn’t need it for evidence in court later.

  The first thing they were going to do was eat dinner though, which meant getting blankets, the food and drink and dishware out to the beach. They also had lights with them and a portable generator, since the cameras would need it. Originally they were going to use glow-sticks in different colors, but Charlot pointed out that those wouldn’t provide even a hundredth of the needed illumination. It meant that almost everyone carried something out to the sand with them. They couldn’t have a fire, since that was against the rules for the area, but it still had a party feeling to it. Someone had brought music with them even, and played it loudly enough that it had to be heard from a hundred meters away, even over the surf.

  Bridget danced in the sand, making it look cute and playful, pulling Brian into dancing with her. He was about the worst dancer Marcia had ever seen, but he tried, which counted for a lot. Denis danced with Karen first, and then Lauren, who cut in, only to be replaced by Charlot of all people. Considering there was a running bet about when she’d snap and put Denis through a wall it was unexpected. She didn’t really like the guy much, or hadn’t at least. She seemed to be warming up for some reason. He was making an effort to not be a dick and it was working even, but Charlot should have been about the last person that had any effect on at all. It was just her nature to dislike people.

  Warren cut in to dance with Brian, which was hilarious, and meant that Karen could settle in next to Marcia to watch. The woman smiled gently and shook her head.

  “Some vacation for him, isn’t it? We can’t even go to a nice hotel without killing people.” Her tone was a bit sad, but Marcia shook her head back.

  “Had to be done. This is a bigger deal than it looks like Kare. I don’t know all of it, but it could be huge.” She thought about things for a second and realized that it would be almost impossible to listen in on them, this close to the surf with the music blasting like it was.

  She leaned in, almost whispering in her friend’s ear.

  “This… I have word that there might be an attempt to kill the President and that the two men Penny stopped earlier were in on it in some way. They were from my old unit. Well, the one I was attached to at least. Lancaster and Reyes too. Even the heavy guy was good back in the day and the other one still was if I guess right. Really high level operatives. My current take is that we’re supposed to be framed for it somehow. Or at least implicated. If we get out of this at all, it will probably be because Penny took action when she did. This is convoluted and messed up, so we need to all get and stay ready and assume that we’re being watched the whole time. Try to encourage everyone to stay on camera as much as possible. It’s why we’re doing a documentary of our vacation.”

  “Really?” Penny’s voice hit her ear, which meant she was close enough o have heard everything else too.

  “Someone wants to Kill President Lawrence? Why? I mean, he’s a nice enough guy. Supports Infected rights and all that who’d want to… Oh.” She fell silent, her voice trailing off weakly.

  Marcia tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

  “Like that. Exactly. Who’d want to take him out? The main culprits would likely be the anti-Infected groups, but most of them are too stupid to put something high level together. But if they’ve recruited ex-special forces and active military for it, they might just pull it off. We can’t let them, of course, but just as important as protecting Lawrence is making sure we don’t get blamed for doing it ourselves. Hence the cameras.” She didn’t say the rest out loud. That if a group of highly trained people wanted the President dead they might not be able to stop them.

  Penny thought of something else though.

  “I don’t show up on cameras. I can be heard, but I normally don’t talk when they’re around like this. It’s a first mode thing. I get shy. So no coverage for me then huh? What about Mark? He could be on screen, leave and be back instantly, doing who knows what. Brian might do something like that too and everyone knows it. He’s the guy that could be anywhere as far as the bigots are concerned, he freaks them the heck out, al
ways there to stop them from killing the “evil Infected”, regardless of the fact that he’s saved as many of their people as not, including Hooper and McCreedy.” She did something, which made Marcia rock just a bit. That was the only indication she was being touched at all.

  “We pretty much have to save the President then, and stop whatever else they have planned. It would be too easy to frame us otherwise. It doesn’t even have to be a proper job of it; they can just kill him with a bomb or sniper, and then make the accusations. A lot of people would believe it, even if the facts don’t fit. It’s too easy for most to believe that everything bad is due to some Infected person or another.”

  It was strange, but Marcia could almost see the shrug that the girl threw off then, at least she imagined she did. It was just the truth though, wasn’t it? If they couldn’t prove their people were accounted for all the time, they could easily catch the blame for something like that. It would be a great thing for Braid and her crew too. Framing the IPB for something like the death of a President or an attempted coup would have them shut down fast. That would mean there would be no one left to actually go after the real Infected threats that came up, ratcheting up the tension even more, leading to a full scale war.

  It was a brilliant plan really, one that Marcia would have used herself, and if she were stupid enough to think a war like that would help anyone at all. She wasn’t though, so that meant it had to be stopped. How though? They didn’t even really know who was doing it, or if anything was happening at all. Not that they could prove. If they reported that the President was in danger and it turned out he wasn’t they’d catch flak for it. If they didn’t and the man was murdered, it would make them look guilty.