“Bye, kiddo.” My dad waved as he and my mother departed.
When the door closed behind them, I sank against it.
“I suppose I better start packing for California.” I gazed up at Davin.
“I’ll do it. I’m a bit faster than you.” He winked.
In a blur, he was gone.
I used the time to tidy up the kitchen. Not even five minutes passed before Davin was back at my side.
“That’s done.” He held my laptop in his other hand. “We better follow up on those properties I found. I have appointments with two landlords the morning I land.”
Davin had spent the past few evenings searching the internet for rental properties while the twins and I acted like school-girls. He had already been in touch with several landlords.
“Good idea.” I sat on a kitchen chair as he pulled the rentals up on my laptop. Even though there was no official MRI policy against dating Kazzies, I still wrung my hands. I had a feeling there may be a policy if it was discovered I’d become involved with Davin, but then I cocked my head. The MRI has relaxed their rules on dating. It’s quite possible they wouldn’t care about this either.
Still I decided it was wiser to err on the side of caution. For the time being, I had no intention of telling Amy or Dr. Sadowsky about Davin joining me.
15 – COMPOUND 3
The doctor’s note I carried fluttered from my hand in the winter breeze like a beckoning white flag. I clutched it tightly so it wouldn’t fly away as I walked toward Sioux Falls’ airport.
Davin had discreetly dropped me off before leaving. He was currently driving to Omaha, the only open airport in our region, to catch a commercial flight to California. Family and friends weren’t permitted to travel with the MRI, and since Davin and I were still trying to keep our relationship under wraps, it made the most sense to travel completely separate.
Ahead, I could just make out Amy and Dr. Sadowsky’s outlines through Sioux Falls airport’s dirty terminal windows.
Someone obviously let them in.
The local law enforcement must have unlocked the doors so we wouldn’t have to wait in the freezing cold. Every other time I’d flown from this airport I’d waited outside on the tarmac. I guessed that it was at Dr. Sadowsky’s request that the terminal was open.
Normally, this place was a tomb. Sioux Falls’ small regional airport had died along with millions of Americans during the First Wave. It had been abandoned ever since.
When I reached the ancient sliding doors, I dropped my suitcase handle and pushed the doors open. They squeaked sharply in protest. Inside, the terminal was dark and bleak. Dust lined the floors and bird poop splattered the numerous windows.
Amy’s eyes brightened when I pushed open the second sliding door to get inside.
“Meghan! Here, let me help you.” She rushed over and pushed the doors closed behind me and then grabbed my suitcase. Thankfully. My arm already hurt from wheeling it while carrying my purse and laptop on my good shoulder, and then having to wrestle the unoiled sliding doors had only aggravated my injury more. But I couldn’t let either Amy or Dr. Sadowsky know that.
Standing up straighter, I ignored my throbbing wound.
“Dr. Forester,” my boss said appraisingly. He wore a long wool coat over his suit. His gaze slid over my form as if assessing if I was healthy enough to join them.
“Good morning.” I thrusted the doctor’s note toward him and held my breath.
He took it and scanned it with narrowed eyes. A few seconds passed before he said, “Six hours.”
My heart stopped.
Glancing up from the note, he sighed. “This says you’re only fit to return to work for six hours a day and that you’re not supposed to lift more than ten pounds.” He raised an eyebrow at my heavy suitcase.
“I know, but six hours is long enough, isn’t it?” I avoided the urge to twist my hands and purposefully ignored the lifting restriction.
“I expect we’ll be working a minimum of eight hours a day. Most likely, many more.”
Crap. I glanced at Amy for help.
“But there’s no reason Meghan can’t continue working once she leaves the Compound,” she said in a rush. “With her laptop, she’ll be able to work remotely from the comfort of a bed while continuing to rest. We can leave most of the conceptual work to her.”
I nodded emphatically. “Exactly, but I’m sure I could work more than six hours. The doctor stated six hours only to follow hospital policy. But every day, I grow stronger, and in less than a month, all of my restrictions lift.”
The Director’s eyebrows knit tightly together. “I don’t see how—”
“Honestly, I feel great,” I cut in. “I’m more than ready to return to work.” I held my breath after that admission.
“Please?” Amy added.
An aching minute passed as Amy and I stared up at him with pleading eyes.
Sighing in exasperation, Dr. Sadowsky folded the note and placed it in his pocket. “Fine. But if I see any sign that you’re not up to the task, you’ll be flying back here . . . on your own dollar.”
In other words, not on the MRI plane. “That’s absolutely fine with me.” I bit back a smile.
Amy grinned and clapped her hands. “You’re coming!”
I swear Dr. Sadowsky rolled his eyes before pulling up his coat sleeve to glance at his watch.
A few minutes later, the jet appeared in the distant sky. I pulled my phone out to check my messages one last time.
Nothing new. In other words, no updates from Cate.
Cate had called last evening to fill me in on the progress. So far, she hadn’t found anything incriminating on Senator Douglas, unfortunately. As for the autopsy, it showed that Zoe had indeed been infected with Makanza, but no DNA within her cells had actually Changed. That meant her immune system was fighting it off since she wasn’t turning into a Kazzie. In other words, Makanza hadn’t killed her. Something else had.
“Do they have any hypotheses for what really caused her death?” I’d asked Cate.
“What we do know is that she wasn’t feeling well in the days before she was admitted. Her parents stated she was having a hard time sleeping and at times seemed confused. And in the hours before her death, she experienced paralysis in her lower body.”
“That doesn’t sound like Makanza.”
“No, but it does sound like a virus. Now, it’s just a matter of figuring out what virus.”
After we’d hung up, I had nibbled my lip. In a way, what they’d discovered was relieving. So far, there was no scientific evidence that Makanza had killed her. It only solidified in my mind that the vaccine was 100% effective.
“Touch down!” Amy’s comment pulled me back to the present. My co-worker’s red hair dropped over her shoulders when she bent to pick up her bag.
We quickly clambered out of the terminal to meet the jet on the runway. Amy tried to carry my bag, but Dr. Sadowsky was watching, so I forced a grin and gritted my teeth against the exertion.
Once onboard, I breathed a sigh of relief that I was actually on the plane. After sending Davin a discreet text that we were about to take off, I tucked my phone away.
Several other researchers occupied the seats. I didn’t recognize any of them. My heart rate increased at the site of so many new faces. At least ten other people stared back at us while we found places to sit.
Amy walked to the back and slid into a row with two open seats. “Is this exciting or what?” She tightened her seatbelt and gazed out the window before turning back to me with a grin. “Was it always like this when you traveled?”
“More or less. The plane usually wasn’t this full, though.”
I’d never told Amy about my social anxiety. I felt certain that she’d picked up on it a few times. Between my sweaty skin, ice cold hands, and eyes widened with fear, anybody with half a brain could see that crowds affected me. However, she never seemed to judge me for it. If anything, she stuck up for me when fear paral
yzed my tongue.
Within minutes, we were in the sky. Clouds drifted beneath us.
“Charlie and Mitch are pretty jealous that they can’t join us.” Amy’s green eyes glittered as she sat back in her seat.
“It’s too bad they can’t.”
Amy chuckled. “What fun would it be if I couldn’t tease them about all of the cool things we’re going to see? If they were here, I wouldn’t have that leverage.”
I laughed. Amy, Mitch, and Charlie were more friends to me than co-workers. We’d worked so closely with one another over the past year that those lines had blurred long ago.
It helped that they’d conspired with me to break into Reservation 1. And that Mitch had illegally posted videos for me on the Dark Web.
Ultimately, it was those videos that had resulted in the country voting to free the Kazzies.
WE LANDED IN California a few hours later. Outside, the sun shone brightly. It was balmy and warm when we stepped out of the plane.
I tilted my face toward the sky. What a change. I couldn’t remember ever feeling warm outside in January. No wonder so much of the country is moving back here.
“Did you know that Dorothy lives in southern California now?” I asked Amy.
Our feet clicked on the tarmac as our suitcases wheeled behind us. The rest of the scientists also headed toward the large van that would drive us to Compound 3.
Amy cocked her head. “Have you heard from her?”
“I talked to her recently to tell her that human trials were commencing soon for the potential new cure. She said she’s going to be the first to sign up.”
Bethany’s response when I called her had been similar, but she said it would be a few weeks until she could travel to California. She was still healing from her botched surgery, and Makayla was due to give birth soon. Bethany didn’t want to miss welcoming her new nephew or niece into the world, but still, I had felt her excitement strumming through the phone line at the mention of a cure.
Amy’s eyes brightened. “What about the other Kazzies from our Compound? Do you know where they are?”
I pulled my suitcase carefully over a large crack in the tarmac. “Sage is waiting for the borders to reopen to Canada while he and Victor live in Colorado, and Garrett returned home to Michigan. Sara, Sophie, and um . . . Davin . . . are still in Rapid City.”
Amy didn’t seem to notice my stumbled words.
Most of my information came from the twins since they spoke to the other Kazzies from Compound 26 regularly, but I’d also called all of them to see if they were interested in the cure. Garrett had wanted to know more, and after telling him what I knew, he said he’d be signing up too.
Amy flashed me a smile. “It’s good to know they’re doing all right, but I wish they’d return all of our calls and emails, not just yours.”
I nodded sympathetically.
It wasn’t surprising that Compound 26’s Kazzies refused to speak to their former researchers. During the time they’d been imprisoned within the Compound, each Kazzie had been subjected to unethical practices.
Granted, Dr. Roberts had been behind most of that, but the Kazzies still blamed my co-workers for those atrocities. Initially, I hadn’t been any better since I’d also gone along with those practices. But it had ultimately led to my rebellion of Dr. Roberts’ rule.
Images of my former boss whirled through my mind as we drove to Compound 3. The last time I’d seen him he’d pointed a gun at Davin with the intention of killing him.
“Do you have any idea what happened to Dr. Roberts?” I angled my body toward Amy and winced slightly when my shoulder jarred.
“Last I heard, he was confined to a psychiatric hospital in Minneapolis.”
“Do you know how long he’ll be there?”
Amy shook her head. “No, but what I do know is that the MRRA is holding him, and you know how they are. Since they follow their own set of laws, who knows what they’ll charge him with or if they’ll let him walk free.”
I bit my lip. So many changes had taken place in our country within the last ten years. Makanza had not only changed the face of our nation, but it had shaped new laws and regulations.
Since the MRRA had always been the number one defense against Makanza, they carried more power than law enforcement. And since Dr. Roberts had been working for the MRRA on Reservation 1, he was now held under their rule.
It was possible he’d be locked up forever, or he could be freed next week. I shuddered. Only the MRRA knew his fate.
Amy elbowed me. “Meghan! Look!”
I followed her pointing finger and grinned.
Compound 3 glimmered on the horizon. Its large, gray four-story structure rose from the arid land behind the tall perimeter walls. Since Compound 3 was in the southeastern portion of the state, not far from the city of Indio, desert surrounded it.
We weren’t the only ones staring at it. The researchers in front of us also craned their necks to get a better view. I guessed many of them had never traveled to this portion of the state. I certainly hadn’t.
The structure grew larger the closer we got. The walled perimeter was similar to that of South Dakota’s Compound. It rose at least twenty feet high and made a perfect square perimeter around the buildings within.
“It looks just like Compound 26.” Amy rested her chin in her hand and propped her elbow against the window. Her childlike wonder reminded me it was her first trip to a new Compound.
“Most of the Compounds are similar. The ones I visited all had a few unique characteristics, but the outside structures are almost identical.”
Amy’s curly red hair brushed my arm when she pulled back from the window. “I can’t believe I’m here!”
When the large, imposing gates filled the front windshield of the van, we ground to a halt. A dozen MRRA soldiers surrounded the vehicle and began the admittance process. It took a while since there were so many of us.
By the time we actually pulled into a parking spot outside of the Compound’s main doors, at least forty minutes had passed.
Warm, dry air swirled around us as we walked from the van to the door. The sun beat down and felt more intense than it did in South Dakota.
Amy smiled and closed her eyes. “I could get used to this.”
I checked the time on my phone. Davin was probably still in the air. The closest airport he could land into was San Diego, which meant he had over a two-hour drive to reach Indio, the town he’d arranged to meet landlords and view properties. Davin was going to text me the address of our new home after he viewed a few this afternoon and decided on which one to rent.
I bit my lip. My boss still didn’t know about my plans to not stay at the hotel the MRI had booked. And since I hadn’t told Amy or my boss my plans, I knew I’d have to explain myself eventually. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
“Ma’am, please place your hand here.” The guard’s voice startled me. He stood at the main admittance door to the Compound and held out the scanner. The rest of my colleagues were also having their palms scanned before being admitted.
I forced a smile and placed my palm against it. It flashed green.
“Your bag?” He held out his hand.
I handed it over as the MRRA soldiers admitted us one-by-one.
Once we were finally inside Compound 3, I wasn’t surprised that the interior was very similar to Compound 26. The main lobby had stone-flecked flooring, grayish blue walls, and a large receptionist desk. Unlike my wing in Compound 26, in which only Carol was seated, Compound 3’s main lobby had five receptionists.
Each smiled as our group huddled in the lobby. Their voices echoed in the large ceilinged entry as they took calls. One of them approached and handed all of us new access badges for Compound 3, along with maps of where the labs, offices, and cafeterias could be found.
“Ah! They’ve arrived!” a voice boomed.
I turned to see a middle-aged gentleman walking toward us from the back hallway. He was short and bal
ding. A large smile covered his face. He held out his palm to shake hands with the first Director he encountered.
I knew who he was from his appearance. Dr. Dornhoff, Compound 3’s Director, looked almost identical to his official MRI photo.
But he wasn’t alone in greeting us. A woman stood just behind him. She had a pleasant smile plastered on her face and carried a clipboard. I could only assume she was his assistant.
“Dr. Thorson, it’s a pleasure to see you here.” Compound 3’s Director pumped the hand of the Director from Vermont. “This must be quite different from the weather you’re experiencing out east. How was the flight?”
They exchange pleasantries before Dr. Dornhoff moved on to the next group.
When he reached Dr. Sadowsky, his smile was still in place. The woman continued to follow behind him.
I observed the two men with my hands clasped. My fingertips felt cool, but my heart still beat evenly. Beside me, I could tell that Amy was itching for her introduction.
“And who do we have here?” The man asked turning to Amy.
She shot her hand forward. “Dr. McConnell, sir. It’s an honor to be here.”
“It’s our pleasure to have you.” He shook her hand and let go.
I swallowed tightly as he turned to face me. His eyes widened for the briefest moment as his smile grew broader.
“And here we have Dr. Meghan Forester. I was hoping we’d see you. Dr. Sadowsky tells me that you’ve returned to work after a few weeks off. We hope that you’re now one-hundred-percent. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Dr. Dornhoff.”
His hand felt warm, so I knew my fingers were still cool. But I kept my head up and held eye contact.
“Yes, thank you, Dr. Dornhoff. I’m feeling fine now and am ready to return to work. I’m very excited to join Division 5.”
I bit back a grimace when he pumped my hand so hard my shoulder burned.
“Now, if you’ll all follow me.” Dr. Dornhoff turned on his heel and strode down the hall. He was surprisingly graceful given his large belly.
The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4 Page 102