Mitch clapped his hands, his light blue eyes aglow. “Charlie! Amy! Get suited up! We have work to do!”
Mitch’s excitement soon took hold of all of us. The love that ached in my chest fell to the background as fierce determination once again bloomed inside of me. The only chance Davin had of being free was if we developed a vaccine.
Charlie and Amy danced when they suited up. This was it. Dr. Hutchinson’s theory of mind-body genomics put to the test. We could only hope she was right.
IT WAS NEAR the end of the day. The four of us had spent the afternoon working with Davin’s muscular tissue. After suiting up, we’d entered the sterile lab attached to our main lab and sliced his sample into dozens of sections. It had been hours now since we’d placed Davin’s muscle tissue into the various solutions required for traditional DNA testing.
We were currently at the final stage, the sequencer. All four of us hovered around the screen.
“This is it, guys.” Mitch rubbed his gloved hands together, his words muffled through the hood. “Let’s see what this puppy’s gonna show.”
The loud hum of the machine reverberated around us. It was the only sound in an otherwise quiet room. “Come on,” Amy murmured. “Work!”
A dot appeared on the screen.
Then another.
Then another.
Then another.
“Holy shit,” Charlie murmured.
The loud humming continued.
I just stared, my mouth falling open. Those dots only meant one thing.
Davin’s DNA was intact.
Amy, Charlie, Mitch, and I watched as pictures of Davin’s DNA slowly formed. The sequencer continued to hum, loud ticking coming from it at times. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
“No freakin’ way.” Mitch was shaking his head back and forth, a bewildered expression on his face.
“I don’t believe it.” Charlie peered closer at the screen.
“Is this really happening?” Amy put her hands on her hips. “Do we really have an intact Kazzie sample that has been exposed to the harshness of labs using traditional DNA testing, and it’s still intact?”
Twenty-four hours ago, that had been impossible.
“Mitch, you and Charlie stay in here.” Amy headed to the decontamination room where we removed our suits. “Meghan, come with me. We have to tell Dr. Sadowsky. Now!”
The urgency in her voice said everything.
OUR BOSS AND the Compound’s Director marched into our lab thirty minutes later. Amy and I stood outside the containment cell, waiting.
“You need to see this.” Amy waved them closer to the window.
They peered into the containment room within our lab, where Charlie and Mitch still stared at the screen. Thousands of dots stared back.
“Meghan collected an intermuscular sample from Davin this morning under positive circumstances. We put it through traditional DNA processing, and this is what’s coming out.” She tapped on the window.
Mitch moved so we could all see the screen. Neither Dr. Roberts nor Dr. Sadowsky said anything for a minute.
“Dr. Hutchinson was right,” Dr. Sadowsky finally murmured.
“Within twenty-four to forty-eight hours, we should have his entire genome mapped out.” Amy crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “We can then start looking for variations. Hopefully, within a few weeks, we’ll have some answers.”
“We need to run this through the night.” Dr. Sadowsky straightened. “There have been rumblings about samples being more stable, but not to this extent.” He turned toward me. “Dr. Forester, can you replicate the environment in which you extracted this sample?”
I swallowed uneasily. “I think so.”
“Good. I’ll set up the conference. Be prepared to join me. I want you telling the scientists nationwide what you did.”
What I’d done? What I’d done couldn’t be replicated by just anyone.
I’d fallen in love with our Kazzie. I couldn’t say for sure, but I was fairly certain he had feelings for me too, even if it was only friendship. How in the world can anything like that be replicated?
“Dr. Forester?” Dr. Sadowsky repeated.
The lump in my throat grew. “Yes, sir, of course.”
THE CONFERENCE WAS scheduled for the next day, even though it was Saturday. As much as I hated to leave the Compound Friday night, there was nothing else we could do. The sequencer would work through the night, doing its job. All we could do was stare at it. Not very productive.
“This never happens,” Amy informed me as we walked to our cars that evening. “Nothing has ever been found that was worthy of bringing everyone in on the weekend. You’ve really discovered something, Meghan.” She gave me a squeeze.
I couldn’t reply. How could I admit that the secret to unlocking the Kazzie’s DNA appeared to be love? Love your Kazzies, have them care for you too, and poof! A stable vaccine was possible.
The next morning came much too quickly. Memories of my first day at the Compound, when I’d been a nervous wreck, came tumbling back. I’m about to leave my apartment to go to work and present my findings to hundreds of researchers. Maybe thousands. Who knew how many workers throughout the Compounds would listen to my presentation. I didn’t even know how many researchers were employed by the MRI.
“Oh God,” I murmured. It was already after six in the morning. I was supposed to be leaving, but instead, I ran back to my bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet before I threw up. How am I supposed to do this?
I splashed cool water on my face and rinsed my mouth. I’ll go see Davin. That’s what I’ll do. Maybe he’ll give me the courage to do this.
When I finally slid into my car, it was already half past six. The conference was scheduled for nine. If I hurried, that would give me thirty minutes with Davin before I’d have to leave his cell.
DAVIN SMILED WHEN I walked into his hallway. I tried to smile back, but bile still rose in my throat. I’d never felt so sick in my life.
His smile vanished.
I walked stiffly down the hall to the watch room. When I stepped inside, I almost jolted back. Sergeant Rose wasn’t there. A different guard sat on the stool. Of course, it’s the weekend.
“Um, hello,” I mumbled when he turned.
He was young. Probably mid-twenties, with sandy blond hair and a square jaw. He had military written all over him. The guard looked down at my badge. “Ah, Dr. Forester, nice to meet you. Sergeant Rose said you may come on some weekends. He said not to be surprised if you showed up.”
“He did?”
The guard nodded. “I’m Private Anderson.”
I took his hand. It felt hot. Of course, the reason for that was my icy palm. A sheen of cool sweat erupted across me, and my breath caught in my throat. Keep it together, Meghan!
Davin stood on the other side of the window, watching me. I let his comforting gaze and presence wash over me. My heart rate slowed.
“Do you mind helping me suit up?”
Private Anderson nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
He led me into the containment room. It took longer to suit up than normal. Private Anderson didn’t have the practice Sergeant Rose had. My blood pressure rose as time ticked by. I’d been here so long, and I still hadn’t spoken to Davin.
When the light on my wrist finally flashed green, I turned on the external speaker. “Sergeant Rose usually gives Davin and me privacy. He usually takes a bathroom break and grabs a cup of coffee.”
Private Anderson’s eyes widened. “He does? That’s against policy.”
“Dr. Sadowsky okayed it.” It was a lie, but I needed to speak to Davin privately, and I didn’t know if I could trust Private Anderson to not listen in. “You can call him if you want.” I held my breath, not sure if the guard would call my bluff.
The guard studied me for a moment, as if he wasn’t sure what to do. I bet my life he’d never spoken to Dr. Sadowsky.
“We need to hurry.” I nodded toward the clock. �
��I’m due up in the auditorium in an hour. Surely you’ve heard of the breakthrough I’ve made with Davin?”
The guard cocked his head. Of course, he had no idea what I was talking about. Only the researchers would know about our breakthrough.
“Right.” He shuffled his feet. “I’ll get you in there.”
He hurried out of the containment room. I waited anxiously until the door opened to Davin’s cell. When it finally did, Davin appeared on the other side, his face a mask of concern. He took my hand and led me to the chair at his desk.
After I sat, I turned toward the window. “Now would be a good time to get that coffee. Call Dr. Sadowsky if you need to.”
I actually saw the guard swallow. A part of me felt guilty. He could be fired for leaving his post, but what were the chances that anybody would find out? Nobody else was in the Sanctum other than the guards, and they were all stationed at their posts. Who would tell?
With stiff movements, he left the watch room. I let out a sigh of relief. Davin smiled, a gleam in his eye. “I’m impressed.” He chuckled.
I took a deep breath. Just his presence calmed me. “With what?”
“That tone of your voice. I’ve never heard you so… authoritative before.”
I laughed, my anxiety slowly melting away. “I haven’t either.”
He kept smiling.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s Saturday. I’ve never seen you on a Saturday. I thought you wouldn’t be in again until Monday.”
“Oh.” I realized Davin had no idea what we’d discovered yesterday. “I should tell you what we found.”
A few minutes later, I finished summing up everything we’d discovered and the reason I was here on the weekend.
Davin just stared at me when I finally finished, his breath coming fast. “So this means a vaccine may be possible?”
“Yes, or, we hope so.”
“Meghan… I…” Hope grew so strongly in his gaze that my heart squeezed. “I don’t know what to say. If a vaccine is possible, that means someday I may get out of here. I could go outside again.”
A click sounded in my earbud, but I barely registered it. The excitement in Davin’s voice made me smile. More than anything, I wanted all of that to be true.
“I could go back to Rapid City. I could see my mom. You could come with me. She’d be so happy to know she was a part of this. If you hadn’t brought me that picture from her, I don’t know if I would have trusted you. She would love knowing what she did helped, and she’d love to see me so–”
He abruptly cut off, his eyes on the watch room. All excitement left his face. A look I never wanted to see again coated it.
Rage.
I took a step back. A voice sounded in my earbud. A voice that stopped me cold.
“Dr. Forester, get out of there, now.” The fury in the tone said everything.
With slow movements, I turned and looked at the one person I hoped to never see down here again.
Dr. Roberts.
He stood in the watch room with his hands on his hips. Private Anderson stood beside him. Fury coated my boss’ face. Dr. Roberts had heard everything Davin said.
26 – SHATTERED
I began shaking. I shook so hard my teeth chattered.
I had no idea what Dr. Roberts would do.
“You don’t have to go out there.” Davin grabbed my hands tightly, his eyes still on the glass. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
Dr. Roberts laughed. The dark sound echoed in Davin’s cell.
My boss had turned the speakers on. That’s what that click had been in my earbud. I squeezed my eyes tightly together. So stupid of you, Meghan! You should have been more careful!
“Meghan!” Davin gripped my shaking hands tighter. “You can stay in here. You’re safe with me.”
“You seem to forget what I can do.” Dr. Roberts lifted a plastic cover on the control panel. The gas.
“No!” I lunged toward the watch room and tripped. I almost fell, but Davin caught me, his arms going around my waist. He lifted me back to my feet, his chest pressed against my side. He’d never been so close before.
For a brief moment, I leaned into him. He pulled me tighter to his side. I could feel him, actually feel his arms through the fabric.
“I should go,” I said.
Davin’s voice grew lower. “I don’t care if he gasses me. I don’t want that bastard anywhere near you.”
Never mind that Dr. Roberts could hear everything we said. Davin obviously didn’t care, but I knew what kind of authority my boss carried.
I chose my next words very carefully. “It’s crucial that I’m not late for the conference. What we discovered is possibly the biggest breakthrough we’ve seen. I should get to the auditorium.”
Davin let go. It felt like a part of my body had broken away. I felt cold and empty. Not complete.
“Be careful,” Davin said quietly.
Emotion surged through me. I actually felt I would choke if I spoke, so instead, I nodded. I walked to the containment room.
Dr. Roberts’ gaze followed me the entire way.
BACK IN THE watch room, I couldn’t meet Dr. Roberts’ eyes. Private Anderson stood in the corner, looking guilty. He’d obviously ratted me out to Dr. Roberts.
Davin stood on the other side of the glass. Fury lined every muscle in his body. I could practically feel his rage.
“Dr. Forester,” my boss said coldly. “Follow me.”
He turned on his heel and marched out of the watch room. I gave Davin one last desperate look before picking up my bag and hurrying after him.
Dr. Roberts marched ahead. I didn’t dare walk at his side. From the steeliness of his shoulders and tense set of his jaw, it was obvious he was angry, but I had no idea how angry.
When we exited the Sanctum, I guessed he’d go right, toward the auditorium. Instead, he veered left, back toward the labs. The conference was coming up. We’d be late if we didn’t go to the auditorium now. I didn’t ask, though. I just followed.
Dr. Roberts marched through the labyrinth of corridors, never once turning to see if I kept up. He seemed to assume I’d follow.
It was only when we approached the outer perimeter of our wing that I realized where we headed: the lobby. When the blinding white walls disappeared, turning into the blueish hue that adorned the lobby’s walls, I finally got the courage to ask a question.
“Dr. Roberts, aren’t we going to be late for the conference?”
He turned.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the gleam in his eyes. He’d never had friendly eyes, nor any hint of warmness to his face, but now his gaze held something that made me feel sick.
Glee.
He held out his hand. “Give me your access badge.”
“Wh… what?”
“Give me your access badge. Now. You’re fired.”
My stomach dropped. This must be some kind of joke. The work I’d done with Davin had been a major breakthrough. Yes, I’d broken MRI policy to obtain it, but surely that wouldn’t matter now, not after the results we’d achieved.
“But what about the conference?”
“That’s no longer your concern. You broke MRI policy by visiting Davin’s mother and by bringing him something from the outside that was not approved through the appropriate channels. You knew what would happen if you got caught. Immediate termination and prosecution.”
My heart rate sped up when he mentioned prosecution, but I knew I’d done nothing illegal. “But our results, surely that makes up for it.”
He laughed darkly. “Do you think results make you immune to the rules of this facility?”
“No, of course not, but I thought–”
“You thought that you could do what you wanted with no repercussions?”
“No, it’s not that. I just thought since we obtained such promising results, you may give this an exception.”
“An exception?” His look told me exactly what he thought of that.
“Do you know anything about how a facility like this runs? Do you think it would be safe to contain Makanza here if people did as they wished? What if everybody decided to break the rules and do as they pleased? Then what? Would we be safe from those… Kazzies?” He sneered the word.
For the first time, I saw the depth of his hatred toward them. It went deeper than I imagined. Every pore in his body seemed to ooze malice.
He continued. “You seem to think that results are more important than following rules. Or that making Davin happy is more important than anything else. You’re young and naïve, Dr. Forester, and I’ll be damned if I have someone, who’s done what you’ve done, work here again. Now, give me your badge. You’re out!”
My mouth opened and closed. “But… my results… nobody else can replicate it. If you just let me explain–”
“Amy will get results. Davin’s DNA is obviously stable enough if he’s happy. I’m sure we can mimic that.”
“But you can’t! If you would just let me explain–”
“Guards!” Dr. Roberts barked.
“Please!”
I knew I was begging. If he fired me, I’d never see Davin again. Ever.
Tears filled my eyes. I hated that I was about to cry in front of my boss, but what he was proposing was unfathomable. To never see Davin again? To not even say goodbye? No. It’s not possible. He can’t do this.
“Your badge, Dr. Forester.” He held out his hand again as the guards approached.
“Please, don’t do this. Let me explain. Let me talk to Dr. Sadowsky,” I begged as the guard’s hands closed over my upper arms.
Dr. Roberts smiled. “It’s too late for that. You’re through here.”
27 – SURPRISE VISIT
Davin’s gone, lost from me forever, and it’s all my fault.
I stood in the parking lot as the two guards flanked my sides. They prodded me toward my car since my feet had frozen. A cool autumn breeze rolled across my cheeks. I barely felt it.
I was just fired.
That was the last time I’ll ever see the inside of the Compound.
Compound 26 Page 24