She ducked and rolled away, and George gave another command, this one to the girls by him. Shots flew, and the guards began to fall. One close to Julie grabbed her ankle and wrenched it, causing her to fall to her knees. She kicked free, crawling to the corner of the room where she tried to pull herself up. She made a white ball in her mind and floated it down to her stinging limb until the pain ebbed slowly away.
A few guards surrounded her, and she reached for her gun, but they were too quick.
As one captured her wrist, another swept her legs out from under her again. She landed an elbow to a jaw, and the guard stumbled back, howling. Her wrist now free, she spun around, kicking up with all her strength while grasping the gun and pulling it from her pants. She aimed and fired, hitting a second guard in the shoulder. He dropped to his knees. A back kick took the wind out of the man who had managed to wedge himself between her and the wall, but the two coming at her from the sides had clear shots at her kidneys. She nearly blacked out as a boot hit her in the stomach, but even in her agony, a new, but familiar, voice registered in her mind.
“Leave her alive,” the emperor shouted over the din of shouting and gunshots around them. “She’s the one who has what we need.”
Sprinting over to her, the emperor squeezed her neck, positioning her head into the crook of his elbow.
“Bring me the serum,” he demanded, “and I’ll consider sparing your life.”
“I’d rather die,” she spat out before he clouted her on the head and her vision blurred.
“Unhand her!” Malcolm’s voice rang through a fog. “I’ve got Twenty-six, and I’ll kill her.”
The emperor laughed. “So do it, little Malcolm. She means nothing to me. Millions of women will clamor to take her place. How about I kill your girlfriend instead, and then you take me to the serum?” He paused, loosening his grip on Julie just a smidge. “Or you could get it for me now, and I’ll let you both live long lives in Terrecina’s jails. Or better yet,” he mused, “I’ll just leave you down here. You’re immune, right? You’ll do fine.”
Julie breathed in as much air as she could manage, taking advantage of the slight room around her throat. “Don’t do it, Malcolm. We’ll just die anyway.”
The battle Malcolm fought was written on his face—the battle she’d tried desperately to let him avoid. Should he attempt to save her or throw her life away on the chance they could save the rest of the people dying here day by day?
The hold on her neck tightened again, and cold metal rested against her temple. She felt more than heard the click of a gun cocking.
Seconds ticked by, each longer than the next. Everyone seemed frozen in place. Even the guards had stopped fighting the girls as all stared at the emperor. Malcolm looked at her then moved his gaze over to George. Julie followed with her eyes and saw her mentor make a slight motion with his fingers.
“Time’s up, Malcolm,” the emperor said and jostled Julie for effect.
“Okay, okay,” Malcolm said, his voice strong and not wavering at all. Julie marveled at his serenity. He drew in a breath. “Come this way,” he said. “Leave the girl with George.”
The emperor hesitated. “I’ll only come with full guards.”
Malcolm considered then nodded. “That’s fine,” he said. “So long as you take the vials and leave us.”
The emperor laughed. “Sure,” he growled. “Let’s just do this.”
* * * *
Malcolm led the way, followed the emperor and dozens of guards. He retrieved his satchel, careful not to turn his back to the men. If he got shot, he wanted it through the front while staring the enemy in the face.
“Bring it to the table.” The emperor pointed out the door to the center slab in the main room, and they pushed their way back through the fighting. Malcolm placed the bag on top, rifling through it for the vials. With reluctance, he handed two red ones to the emperor, keeping a blue hidden in his palm.
The emperor laughed, a rumbling sound coming from deep within his belly.
“You’re such a fool,” he said. “Did you think I hadn’t surrounded the entire city?”
Malcolm smirked. “You’re bluffing,” he said. “Terrecina doesn’t have the manpower to surround New York City.”
“What do you think those planes were doing flying over the city each week? Surveillance?” He laughed again. “I’ve had men setting up a bomb system that will rock Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs through their sewers. No one will make it out of here alive.” He paused, grinning in an evil manner. “Not that it’s worth living down here anyway. I’m doing you all a favor.”
A scuffle from behind him had the guards skirmishing, and Malcolm caught a glimpse of George, just as his mentor, head-butted one man, and back-fisted another.
The emperor shrugged and turned back to Malcolm, raising his voice to be heard over the struggle. “But not you or your boss or your lover. I want the satisfaction of seeing you all dead by my own hands.”
Malcolm caught George’s eye from across the room and flashed him a look at the vial. Each tube had syringes, already in place. Malcolm had prepared them the night before, and he would need them now. The serum would knock out George, of course, but not before the surge of super-strength that might be just enough for him to wrest free Julie and make a break for it. George would appear dead, and Malcolm hoped the emperor would be too busy chasing him and Julie to check thoroughly.
“George!” he shouted, whipping back his arm. “Catch!”
The vial flew through the air, and George jumped up, using one of the guards as a step stool. He caught it, and plunged the needle into his own arm, growling with the sting.
“But it will kill him!” the emperor said in shock.
“That which doesn’t kill me makes me stronger, Stan,” George said through clenched teeth before barreling at the man as if he were a bull.
A testament to his eternal youth program, the emperor wove out of the way, leaving George to skid to a stop just before crashing into the wall. Malcolm watched his mentor struggle for his balance, and Malcolm used the confusion to bolt for the door.
“You lied to me!” the emperor bellowed. “You all lied to me! All this time, we’ve been injecting women, making them stronger, faster, healthier, so that I could have a super-heir and a super-army in the years to come…” He paused, his face reddening with rage. “When you could have just injected me, given me the strength and agility I craved. Then we could have let nature take its course.” He turned, his eyes crazy and narrowed on Malcolm. “No,” he breathed. “Then we could have manufactured this and given it to the men. We could own this earth right now…if not for you.” He spit out those last words as if Malcolm were a disease.
George made one more pass at the emperor as Malcolm scanned the area, desperate for a glimpse of Julie. He saw nothing but backs and limbs as everyone in the place erupted into fighting.
Please, God, let her be alive.
“Well, two can play at that game,” the emperor continued. “Guards, stop.”
The place quieted.
“We’ll need both the young scientist and the girl alive. They’re coming with us. Don’t kill the old man, either.” He shot a look at George. “I want to do it myself.”
He took one of the red vials, removing the syringe and stuck himself in the arm, cackling.
“Stan, no!” George’s call came too late, not that it would have stopped the fevered leader anyway. “The red will kill you!”
“No more lies, George, old friend,” the emperor said, taking a step toward him. “No more make believe. You’ve always been jealous of me, always wanted my power. Now, you won’t even have life. Come at me. Man-to-man. Fight me like the ‘superhero’ you’ve become.”
But George slumped, the serum’s effects making their way through his body, and the emperor paused, doubt etched across his face.
“Could it be?” he asked in wonderment. “Did you sacrifice him…for this?” He motioned around at the decayi
ng hospital.
Malcolm shook his head, his stomach in knots. “No,” he managed. “George will live. You, however, will not.”
Even as he spoke, the emperor collapsed, clutching his stomach, the red serum proving what it had proved time and time again in tests. It was lethal to men.
The emperor wretched, his vomit laced with blood. His eyes widened then clamped shut only to spring open again in desperate and pitiful shock. His mouth hung down, slack at the jaw. He tried to raise his head, only to let it fall to the floor. It cracked on the tile. He twitched and shivered then went still.
The guards looked on in silence.
From the corner of his eye, Malcolm saw a flash of movement. Julie jostled her way forward through the crowd, to stand next to him. Everyone stood stock still, watching him, except her. She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I guess George was wrong,” she whispered. “Love didn’t hurt us; it helped.”
Malcolm stared down at her and made a decision. They had to act now, or they’d still perish here, under the emperor’s guards. A new leader would rise up, possibly one even crueler than Stan had been.
Even as the thoughts crossed his mind, a shrill voice began commanding those men.
“What do you think you are doing?” the woman called as a swish of fabric accompanied her as she made way down the stairs. Malcolm had left Twenty-six at the launch pad, after knocking her out. He’d had nothing to bind her with and no time to lose. It was no wonder she’d been able to make her way down upon awakening.
Twenty-six appeared on the first landing, standing above the crowd. “Kill them,” she said. “Get the vials from the lousy oaf who called himself Emperor, and kill them all. When we take off, blow up the city. I’ve had enough.”
The guards looked from her to Malcolm in confusion. They knew she was just a number, but given no other direction, they’d most likely follow her orders. That or squabble with each other until the strongest took the lead. Either way, whoever emerged from this could be unstable and deadly. It was up to him.
“You could do that.” He let his voice sound loud and assured. “But you would die.” He paused, trying to make his bluff sound believable. “We’ve already killed the emperor. And your general Teo Mathis is so disfigured and injured, he can hardly breathe, let alone lead you. The people all around us are dying, yet these girls in our care, all except Twenty-six,” he continued, pointing at her, “have enhanced speed and strength. Have you not witnessed it yourselves? Or perhaps you are used to being beaten by a bunch of young girls.” Somewhere, a foot scuffed, and a few heads lowered.
“Julie,” he said, just as loudly, turning to her. “Show them.”
He didn’t know what she would do, but she didn’t disappoint. She crouched down low to the ground then sprang up at least eight feet in the air where she hovered for a few seconds before doing a triple flip and landing on her feet again by his side.
“Anna,” he called, praying the serum had had enough time to work within her. “Show them.”
The girl entered the room slowly, looking at him with big, doe-like eyes.
He nodded. You can do this, he said to her with his mind.
She nodded back. Sprinting around the room she gained more and more speed until she was just a dizzying blur of motion then, suddenly, she stopped in the center. She wasn’t even out of breath.
“What can you do, Twenty-six?”
The girl above stomped her foot in rage. “Treason!” she shrieked. “Treachery! Guards! Arrest them! Kill them! Kill them all!”
No one moved. Malcolm shrugged. “It’s up to you,” he said. “But if you choose her or you choose to fight it out amongst yourselves, rest assured, we will escape this hospital prison. We will regroup, and we will come back for you. And you will lose. Or…you can join with us. We’ll give you good pay and jobs, resources and appreciation. Something, I dare to think, you’ve never had before.”
He waited. He’d made his best arguments. It truly was up to them.
A whisper started somewhere in the back, and the sound increased until it became a dull roar. Malcolm concentrated his mind’s efforts, hoping he had enough energy left to get his call out to all the girls, scattered as they were throughout the first floor of the hospital. Should the guards turn against them, they would have to bolt through the doors and hide in The Levels. The ship wasn’t big enough to bring them all back, and he didn’t know where the fighter planes were stationed. But they would find them. And they would fly.
Finally, a beefy guard stomped up the stairs and took hold of Twenty-six by the hair. Everyone turned, and the room silenced.
“We’ll stand with you,” he said. “Emperor.”
* * * *
Lying with Julie on her little cot, Malcolm tried to shut off his mind to the enormity of what happened earlier that day. Julie’s palms rubbed over his back in soothing patterns, and she didn’t speak, but murmured sighs into his ear, allowing her presence to calm him.
He turned to face her in the bed. “I can’t do this,” he said. “I’m no emperor.”
She smiled at him, sleepiness smoothing her features. “You don’t have to be,” she replied. “Just step in for now. The people need you. They need someone they can believe in. Someone who has proven he has the brains to restart an entire population. And that’s you.”
He groaned, closing his eyes, and he felt her lips on his cheek.
“And I need you,” she continued. “And I don’t need anything or anyone. So, whether or not you think you can do it, you’ve got everyone rooting for you.”
“But the problems are so big.” He heaved a sigh, thinking about all that had to be done.
“We take it one step at a time,” she said softly. “You’ve got me and Anna and George. All the other girls will help, too. And the old Terrecina guards. Everyone here is good for something. It will work out. After all,” she added, “we’ve already done the impossible. We’ve already won. Now, we just have to make it work.”
He nodded, allowing himself a small grin. “Well, at least I understand that,” he said. “Being a scientist, making things work is all I’ve ever done. First, I’ll have to recalculate the serums. You know? Make a more benign version of the antibodies and start vaccinating people. Then—”
Julie’s fingers on his lips stilled them. “We’ve plenty of time for all that,” she said, moving her hand from his face to his waist and pulling him toward her. “Now, it’s time to rest.”
“I cannot believe I found you,” he said, tracing her soft skin and curves with his fingertip while marveling at her inner strength and intelligence. “Of anyone I’ve ever known, you really are a special one.”
She laughed, the happy sound calming. “We make quite a pair,” she said. “And if you’ll have me, I’d like to keep it that way.”
“If I’ll have you?” Malcolm gaped. “I’d be a lunatic to let you go. I’ll never let you go.” He circled his arms around her and placed his chin above the silky strands of her hair, kissing the top of her head, and she chuckled again.
“Then let’s get some sleep,” she answered, “and start saving the world again tomorrow.”
The warm surge of emotion within him was overpowering. “I love you, Julie,” he said.
“I love you, too, my scientist,” she replied.
He stared at the ceiling tiles for a while longer, going over mathematics in his head until tiredness finally beckoned. There had been so much more he wanted to say, but Julie was already fast asleep.
Epilogue
“Thirty-four!” Julie smiled as she called out the number.
A ragged woman stepped forward and held out her arm. She looked tired, sore and hungry, but well-washed and happy. The rest would come. Julie squeezed liquid from the syringe into the woman’s forearm then led her to the large resting area that used to be one of the dance halls in Rouble Palace.
“Thirty-five, thirty-six and thirty-seven are next,” Julie’s patient said, pointing to the band of small ch
ildren trailing them. “Do you mind if they rest with me?”
“Not at all,” Julie grinned, feeling her face stretch with the joy she felt. As head of the Immunization Project, she took in dozens of families every day, as many as she could manage while Malcolm’s team of scientists produced more of the antibodies.
Unlike the now-defunct super-serum program, the vaccinations took little time to recover from. Some complained of mild nausea for a day or two, but it was worth the minimal side effects. Once they’d finished with all the adults, they could begin vaccinating the state of New York much like they’d vaccinated Terrecina or how people in the old world had been vaccinated before the collapse. On a schedule as babies and toddlers. Eventually, they’d spread through the States, and hopefully the world.
This round of people would be ready for a flight back to the burned-out city by next week, and hopefully another two hundred would take their place. The process was long, and the gentry of Terrecina had threatened Malcolm when he’d explained the new policies, but eventually, most of them had come around. They’d been able to keep their posh houses and lifestyles, after all. Plus, with the added resources of the old world, they’d never have to leave Terrecina if they didn’t want to. That wasn’t for Julie, though. She couldn’t wait to move back to the earth proper.
“Thirty-eight!” she called after she finished with the children and smiled at the old man who hobbled over to her.
“Thanks for taking me, dear,” he said. “An old man like me is a waste of a vaccination.”
“Sir, with all due respect, anyone who can live for decades in filth and garbage with little food and not succumb to the plagues is someone worth saving.”
He beamed as she sank in the syringe.
After the guards had decided to follow them, they’d formed an emergency army, with Malcolm at the head. He actually had blown up the city, but they performed massive evacuations first. Those who were immunized against the rampant disease had rounded up every living person they found and hustling them to a holding station in New Jersey.
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