The canteen was the largest room on level two, decorated in the familiar yellow and cream patterns of the bunker. Rows of hotplates serving breakfast lined the rear wall. Circular tables of ten filled the remaining floor space. Kaya’s group ate together on two tables, their conversation sporadic and whispered.
After a breakfast of mushroom omelet and coffee, Matos led them upstairs to level one. The naked soldier was still running between markers laid on the concrete floor. Sweating and red faced with his tongue hanging out like a panting dog. A full squad of soldiers shouted and barked at him along the route.
“What’s that man’s name?” Avery asked.
“Corporal Dowey. From Echo squad,” Ringo replied.
Avery clenched her fists as she watched Dowey. “Have the Echo squad officer sent to me.”
The arrogant leer plastered over his face was gone, but she remembered. Her lip curled and bared her front teeth. She wanted him drained and humiliated. She wanted to crush him.
“This way to the armory,” Matos said, breaking her concentration and guiding her away.
The armory guard stood and saluted, as she approached. An obese man with a flabby neck and wisps of stubble on his chin. Avery’s curling lip returned. The man would benefit from joining Dowey running behind them. The guard couldn’t maintain eye contact, gently moving a tray of doughnuts behind his screen.
“No food in the armory, do I make myself clear?”She barked.
“Yes Commander.”
“If I catch you with food here again, you’ll be cleaning the toilets for a month.”
“Yes Commander.”
She turned on her heel and began striding away. Eyes fixed on the staircase door, anger coursing through her like an inferno. She marched down the stairs towards level 4, replaying the casual and disrespectful welcome the scientists had shown her yesterday. She ground her teeth and rolled her shoulders.
“Commander, are you feeling okay?” Matos asked.
“I’m fine,” she snapped. The headache throb had gained sharp pains across her forehead. She sucked in deep breaths and kept moving. Lying down would only make it worse.
“Be careful in here,” Matos whispered. Glazed windows allowed her a good view of the scientists. They didn’t appear much of a threat. All had heads down, engaged in whatever work scientists did all day.
Ringo held open the Neurogenic lab door, glancing briefly at Matos as Avery walked inside. She caught the look and stopped in the doorway.
“A problem Ringo?” she asked. Ringo remained silent and for a brief second they stood frozen in the entrance. “Make sure you clean your hands next time I see you.”
“Commander. Welcome to Neurogenics.” Avery’s head twisted towards the lab, a sterile white room with two workstations and a cubicle in the corner. More an office than laboratory.
“I’m Dr Cain and this is Dr Burns.”
A large woman was walking towards her. Well over six foot tall, broad shoulders and short blonde hair. She wore a blue trouser suite and white shirt, a gold chain around her neck.
“Good morning,” Avery replied. She took an offered hand that squeezed out any courtesy. Her head jerked up to look at the large woman. Cain was smiling, her eyes flicking across Avery’s face.
“I trust we are all functioning well?” Avery asked, squeezing back with as much force as she could manage.
“One hundred per cent. Everyone in this facility has cutting edge nano technology,” Cain said.
Her slow measured reply was accompanied by furrowed eyebrows in a mock serious tone. It seemed to be the way scientists talked to anyone other than their colleagues.
Avery pulled her hand away and resisted an urge to massage it. “That’s a powerful tool.”
“It is.”
Doctor Burns was blinking at her from behind a workstation monitor. He seemed to be working out a way to communicate using Morse code.
“Generation four nanos go way beyond all previous versions,” he began. “They adapt and improve you see? It’s a very exciting development. The combat medic facility may be of interest to you Commander. Apart from substantial mutilation, inter cranial or spinal cord damage. Nanos will repair any disease or injury.”
“Amazing.” Avery said, looking towards Cain. “We can save millions with this.”
“Commander, there is no capability of supplying the general populous. That would take years,” Cain said.
“Don’t we have years?”
“We’re here in the belief that we don’t. The world may be a very different place when our assignment is complete.”
They stood in a triangle as Avery considered the implications. In the bunker they were protected while outside there would be riots and war, disease and starvation. Her mind drifted to her old unit, but she struggled to picture any faces of her former comrades.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Cain asked.
“I’m fine,” Avery murmured. “Bit of a headache.”
“Perhaps you would enjoy a spell in the NDCC.”
Avery’s mind raced, she should know this stuff.
“The Nano Diagnostic Control Centre,” Cain said, with a hint of triumph. She pointed towards a white rectangular pod in the corner.
Burns loped towards the pod and opened the door with a flourish. It was like a shower cubicle with a plastic floor and walls, but without any attachments.
“Impressive,” Avery said, without enthusiasm.
“It’s a sophisticated machine. I won’t bore you with the minutia. Essentially, it scans your nanos, maps current activity and command codes.”
“Perhaps the commander would like to come back later?” Matos said.
Cain shot a glance in his direction. Her face flickered with annoyance like a passing train. Then she was smiling again.
“Yes, later. Thank you Dr Cain,” Avery said, walking towards the door.
As she stepped outside the lab, stabbing pain in her forehead caused her to stumble. She leant against the lab window, taking deep breaths and rubbing her temples. Nausea threatened to overwhelm her as she fought for control. Closing her eyes, an image of cat eyes burned in her mind.
Ringo held the chemical lab door open, appearing not to notice her discomfort. Matos guided her inside by an elbow. The scientists explained their work monitoring external atmosphere levels, fallout forecasts, precipitation, acidity and temperature against a base average obtained over years of data.
She blinked and suddenly found herself back outside the chemical lab. It was as if she transported herself there by magic. Matos and Ringo seemed not to notice. For a moment she couldn’t remember where she was then her memory flooded back in. She grimaced and rubbed her forehead.
Matos held her elbow, guiding them away from the labs. “It will pass,” he whispered.
He led her to the veterinary centre, pushing open the door and leading her to a padded black easy chair. Matos closed the door, muttering something to Ringo before shutting him outside. Avery sat down and leaned forward, head in her hands.
“Are you really a vet?” She asked, after a few moments.
“As far as I know,” he replied.
“What does that mean?”
Matos evaded the question and began a tour of the office and examination room. He described the equipment in detail, alluding to a thorough veterinary knowledge. Using a biometric lock he opened a store containing bewildering medication and unfamiliar instruments.
“The surgery is capable of completing simple examinations to detailed surgery,” he said.
“There aren’t enough animals in the mini farm to justify this set up.” Avery said.
“I’m not sure what other use I’ll be,” he replied.
“Don’t patronize me, what are you doing here?”
His face showed no sign of deception or deceit. The anger inside was fading and her face flushed at memories of Dowey and the armory guard. She lacked the energy to engage Matos in a cat and mouse conversation. It had been a traumatic few
days and she was in unfamiliar surroundings.
“Thank you,” she said, standing and walking to the door.
“The headache will pass then we can talk again.”
Avery ignored his riddles and left the room. She walked with Ringo back to her quarters but didn’t hear his parting words. Instead, she concentrated on activating the door as pain consumed her.
Chapter 8
The bedside digital time display read six fifty am. Groaning in exhaustion, Logan rolled over, muscles aching as if he’d run a marathon. There was over an hour for him to dress and travel to work. He lay for a moment in the soft embrace of his bed, wishing for Saturday morning.
Downstairs in the kitchen, Cate was still in pajamas and sat reading an article at the dining table. Her face was pale with soft brown rings below puffy eyes.
“Where are the boys?” he asked.
“They’re watching cartoons. Have you seen the news?”
“No, what’s wrong.”
In a panic, he swiped a control panel on the table. A news channel Cate had been watching appeared. Detailed schematics of the nanobots inside a human body, aside a serious looking reporter.
“The nanos have stopped working,” Cate said.
“He was right,” Logan whispered.
“Who was?”
“Rich. He told me about the nanos, when he came that night.”
Cate folded her screen and lifted a cup to point at him. “Since Rich and Caspar came over you haven’t said more than two words to me.”
“Sorry, I’ve had a lot on my mind. We’re always talking about the world’s problems. Well now some people think there’s going to be a crisis.”
“I spoke to Sally Sarin this morning. Why didn’t you tell me?” Cate asked.
Muting the TV, Logan slid his arm around her. His heart beat against her as she held him. “We’re going to be alright, I’m working on it.”
“I’ve already started packing up essentials and stockpiling food. No panic but I want to be ready.”
“Good plan,” he said, holding her and staring at the muted news channel.
#
Logan reviewed his mine ventilation design through a secure web portal in his office. The mine acted as a moisture filter by channeling air around miles of dry tunnels. For additional filtration, the system now included plasma field generators, air scrubbers and charcoal curtains.
The design vanished as a video call from Barney flashed on his screen.
Shit
He reopened the screen and exited the documents. Swiped all paper notes into a desk drawer then smoothed back his hair, straightened up in his chair and touched the red answer icon.
“Get up to my office. Charlie’s on holiday and the plant seems to be on shut down. Where is everyone?”
“Be right there,” Logan replied.
“What the hell is going on?” Barney asked and then disconnected.
Logan navigated his way to Barney’s outer office. He left no trace of the salt mine plans in the plants intranet. Only Jarod and Sean knew anything at the moment and they wouldn’t be talking to Barney.
Two guards and a secretary sat behind their desks in the ante room. Heads down and reading, Logan coughed to get the attention of Stella, Barneys PA.
“Hey Stella, can you let Barney know I’m here.”
“Of course,” she replied, flicking her hand across the desk screen.
“You made it in today then?” Logan said.
“Yes it was awful last night. We heard shouting, screaming and gunfire. It lasted all night. Must be the nano news, but I don’t think they ever worked anyway,” she said, adding a wink.
Biting his bottom lip, he stood staring at her and trying to work out the best response. His paranoia increasing as she glanced down then back up at him.
“Go in, he’s waiting,” she said.
Logan walked to the double doors, ignoring the security guards as they eyed him on both sides. They always made you feel as if you were hiding something. Selecting the left hand leaf, he pushed his way into Barney’s office.
Barney sat behind his horseshoe shaped white desk, eyes focused on a blue air screen. At his side, a large stocky woman dressed in a black trouser suit was pointing at a diagram. She reminded him of Miss Trunchball from Matilda.
He took a seat opposite the desk, crossed his legs and shifted in the chair for a relaxed position. Barney’s office occupied the rear left hand corner of the building. It was an airy room with windows facing the lake. Behind his workstation, sunlight glinted on the white landscape and lake water.
The blue screen faded into the air and Barney’s gaze fell upon him. “Apologies Logan, the world turns but we still need power.”
“Indeed.”
“Indeed, indeed. You really have a way with words.”
Barney began rolling up his shirt sleeves, shaking his head. “Are you sure he’s our man?”
The woman eyed Logan like a bug. He unconsciously pushed back against the chair, crossed and uncrossed his legs.
“Where were you yesterday afternoon?” Barney said.
Logan couldn’t stop a slight twitch of his shoulder. He’d been expecting this question. “I had a site meeting with a supplier. Problems with corrosion on conditioning units.”
“Why did you need to physically visit them, why not make a virtual call.”
“A VC wouldn’t be practical. I wanted to see the processing system in person.”
“Why weren’t you wearing your bio band?”
“Faulty unit. I’ve put in a requisition order for a new one.”
Barney offered him a tight smile. “In future, particularly in these troubled times, I need you to be here. A visible presence for the staff. Understand?”
“I’m drafting in temp labor to fill the gap left by absentees and your secondments. I'm scrapping ancillary work for the foreseeable future. We’ll get the balance back.”
Barney fixed him with a squinting stare then nodded towards the woman. “He’s all yours now.”
Doctor Cain loomed over Logan, taking his elbow and half dragging him out of Barney’s office. They crossed the ante room and entered the boardroom. It was empty and the large oval table was bare except for a black hard shell case. Logan extracted his arm and walked to the other side of the table.
“Don’t be shy,” she said.
“What do you want?”
“I have a fourth generation nano injection for you. As Operations Manager, you’re an important man.”
The words had a tinge of sarcasm that mirrored in her eyes. She opened the case and produced an injection gun, filled with a weak yellow solution.
“Roll up your sleeve Mr Logan.”
“It’s just Logan,” he said, taking a step backwards and almost tripping over a waste paper bin.
“We need to ensure key personnel remain operational. You will report to a secure location in one week,” she said.
“What secure location? What about my family?”
Holding the injector gun in front of her, she advanced on him. Before he could move, she pushed the gun against his arm and a needle punctured his skin. Her hand gripped his arm until the injection was complete.
“They will be along to join you. Once you’re all settled in.”
“Why me?”
Cain replaced the injector gun and closed the case. “You have the right genes.”
She smiled at him then walked from the room.
Logan remained standing, rubbing the needle puncture wound. His mind made up on the generator. They had to get the salt mine operational.
He half ran back to his office and sagged into his chair. Reaching into his desk drawer and pulling out a bottle of brandy. He screwed off the lid and sniffed the alcohol before taking a slug.
The liquid burned his mouth and throat as it slid down. Logan stared at the ceiling for a moment then tapped his desk screen. He sent an order to Chief Engineer, Jarod Washington, to pull a generator for service.
#
"They're both asleep,” Cate said, taking a seat next to him on the sofa.
“I would have told you sooner but,” he said, pausing while he searched for words. “I’ve had a lot on.”
Cate smiled in reply, Logan took a sip of wine to cover his face.
“Rich and Caspar came to see me that night. They plan to use a salt mine as an emergency bunker.” He took another swallow and Cate filled the glass. “I thought they were mad at first. Jarod agrees with them.”
“Jarod’s not just a workhorse you know. Listen to Demi and she would tell you he’s the smartest man alive.”
“He thinks she’s the cleverest woman alive.”
Cate took a swallow of wine and leaned back against the sofa. “So how far along is the salt mine?”
“You wouldn’t believe it. Food, water, lights, toilets, beds, tables and chairs. They have almost everything you can think of. I’ve used the plants resources to fill a workshop and connect wiring for power.”
“So what’s the problem? Sally said you were still having doubts.”
“They want me to steal a nuclear generator.”
Logan watched her reaction.
She clicked her lips then took a swallow of wine. He didn’t want to mention the nano injection yet. Let her absorb this information first. The concept of nano use never worried him before. Like everyone, he had become used to them over many years. Now his skin prickled at the notion of metal insects crawling inside him.
“What happens if you’re caught?”
“Lose my job without question. Prison if it all lands on my shoulders. It’s the most serious decision of our lives. Act now and be damned or don’t act and be dead.”
“It’s that bad?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
She leaned closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder. Logan swallowed the remainder of his wine and closed his eyes.
“You have to do it,” Cate said. Her voice distant, aimed away from him as her head lay on his chest.
“But what if there is no apocalypse?”
“We can get by. We always have in the past. Rent a small house in a new town or leave the country.”
Logan relaxed into the sofa and let out his breath. Cate didn’t know he had already given the order but it was a relief to have her onside.
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