by Jon State
“Has security been tightened?”
“Yes. I’ve got all my men out searching the boundary for any unwanted quest.”
Dr. Spencer was jogging now. He saw two alphas and two men around an area lit by caution lamps. “What happened to them?” he called out, despite the distance.
“Damn shame,” Efrem said, shaking his head, as he met the doctor. “They fought something nearly as big as what attacked us last time. Harmon had a hunting knife, little good it did him. Pretty messy.”
"How about the sensors, the surveillance cams, or the Alphas?" Dr. Spencer's vision locked onto the shocking scene and was unable to tear his eyes away. This was the carnage of what had once been Harmon and Kaya.
“Nothing came over the wall. If it did, it was invisible or it came from another less-guarded location.” Efrem sighed and pulled off his crimson covered latex gloves.
Dr. Spencer felt as if someone had poured ice water down his spine. He put the two victims together in his mind. Could Ben have anything to do with this? Is he capable? Of course not, Dr. Spencer resolved.
“You feeling alright, Doc? You look a bit pale.”
“Yes. I’m okay. It’s just that these are the first deaths since our arrival. Plus, I knew the man. A good man. Kaya, such an innocent soul.”
“We’ve gathered all the evidence possible, and the Alphas need to clean this up before anyone catches a glimpse of this gruesome site.” Efrem said.
“Agreed. In the meantime, I can run some tissue tests to help Mathew’s forensic AI until the Council convenes,” the doctor said.
************************************
Dr. Spencer waved Ben to him. Ben saw him and nodded to the person he spoke to. The sparsely lit room hid his eyes as he turned to meet the doctor.
“Spence, what a tragedy?”
“Yes, it is. A word, please?” the doctor said, tight jawed.
“Sure. Is there something wrong?”
“Did you have anything to do with this? You said they were responding to the serum?”
“Wait. What?” Ben glared at Dr. Spencer and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why would you ask me that? They were behaving as expected and had even found jobs within the community. I can't believe you would assume I had anything to do with this tragedy," he whispered tersely.
“I can’t believe it either, but they were under your care. I put them there and now they’re dead.”
“Where did I get the monster to do this?”
“You’ve done it before, but why them?”
“Has it occurred to you that their little venture beyond the wall may have allowed something to follow them here or perhaps they went out again? The serum works differently for everyone. With Harmon, it took twice as much time than with Kaya, and this doesn't mean he wouldn't attempt another test for his suit outside the wall. So why are you coming after me? Harmon and Kaya seemed happy, content. The last time we spoke, you admitted how well everything was going. Now, I’m murdering citizens?" Ben's hands poised, open-palmed in front of Dr. Spencer.
Dr. Spencer looked away. “I’m sorry, your right. I lost it seeing Harmon and Kaya like that. I was hoping to speak with them again concerning their wellbeing, but I never found the time.”
“I am sorry, Spence. We have to escalate security. The Alphas are thinned out throughout the wall. We have thirty guards and fifty military personnel, but we need these around the city and working on several ongoing projects. One Alpha can do the job of ten men, so we’ve sorted the wall patrols with humans. Alpha 10 is creating an automated laser system, but it will take weeks before it’s in place.”
“I see you’re on top of things,” Dr. Spencer said.
“More like riding bareback. To say my ass hurts is an understatement.” Ben laughed tight faced.
“I will try to be more supportive, Ben.”
“I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again, and you stay on this infertility issue. Each day without an answer to this dilemma worries our couples even more. Most citizens miss seeing children. Malica said it’s more than a slight concern. She said the lack of children is primarily affecting the female population.”
“I’ve solicited Alpha 80’s aid and I sent Specialist Johnson to take his post for the time being. I’m going to be frank with you, Ben. Something has rewritten protein codes and only Mother—or aliens—could’ve done this because we’re clearly several centuries behind DNA rearrangement,” Dr. Spencer said.
Ben remained silent for a moment. “If we can’t solve this conundrum, every other effort to create a comfortable human city will be for naught. Centuries from now, aliens will come and wonder what happened to the sentient people that once lived here.”
“I know, I know,” Dr. Spencer said tiredly. “Believe me, I do miss one person more than you can think—Harmon—but that was before he took the serum. I still can’t fathom his death.” Dr. Spencer started to amble away.
“Hey!” Ben called after him, surveying his surrounding for eavesdroppers. He came up to Dr. Spencer and stopped. “Did you plan to use him at a later time if the fertility situation became catastrophic?”
Dr. Spencer stared at the ground then scanned the sky as if lost in a mental maze. “Yes. And now we have only me and Alphas to deal with this and I’m not gifted—never have been. I will miss Kaya and Harmon and what could’ve been. I only pray that one day we can find a way to make matters right.
Ben turned away and repeated, “I’m so sorry, Spence, for all our sake.”
Chapter 55
Manipulate
Terranova, USC
September 26, 4067
"So you're sealing the Empire State Building's entrance?" Dr. Spencer said.
“Yes. We’ve extracted everything the sight had to offer. We can still go back and open it if necessary. We’re afraid the fence is not enough. A metal plate will cover the hole, and we'll add a hatch. You can come by and see what we’ve done later,” Lt. Pierce said.
“I’ll keep it in mind. I never got the chance to go below the Empire State Building new resting place. When I lived in Queens I visited it a few times. I wanted to get a glimpse of what it had become, but I couldn't get away from the lab."
“You need a break, Spence. You wanna know the truth?”
Dr. Spencer stopped pressing keys and gazed at his friend. "Always."
“Place gave me the willies. There was a creepy vibe about it.”
“I thought we found no bodies in it?”
“True, but isn’t it the oddest thing? Over a hundred floors—snacks were petrified but untouched. Surveillance feeds show people sheltering in the sub-basement, but we found no sign they had ever been there. Blacklight revealed no fingerprints. It's as if the place had been wiped clean. No Spence, that place was prepped for us. Well…maybe not specifically us, but for humans in general. Sealing it will make me sleep better, that’s all,” the lieutenant said shaking his head.
“I think Mother may have plans for our steel and brick sleeper.” Dr. Spencer quipped.
“I don’t want to know. I’m finally feeling better about being here, and I want to leave all the drama where it belongs—in the past,” he said, looking up at the gloomy tent ceiling, wondering why the doctor kept it so dark.”
“From the day you and your men valiantly undertook the trip to the surface, you struck me as an adventurer,” Dr. Spencer said, eyebrows raised.
“I suppose you’re right, but I think the adventurer in me is spent, and all I want now is peace. This tragedy with Harmon and Kaya makes my heart hurt. I say we do everything in our power to be safe. Simple things are so much easier to deal with.”
Dr. Spencer examined Lt. Pierce’s eyes and he swore they seemed to belong to someone alien to him. “I suppose your right Lieutenant. Now, let’s get back to business. How long can Alpha 80 stay?”
“As long as Johnson stays on the wall in its post.”
Dr. Spencer turned to the android’s sharp laser gaze. “You ready to delve into
DNA, Alpha 80?”
“Yes, Doctor,” the Alpha said, bowing his pan head. "Specialist Johnson wanted to relay a message to you," the little droid said, with its even, crisp tone.
“Let’s hear it.” Dr.Spencer leaned back, expecting the humor he’d grown used to from Johnson.
From the Alpha’s breast appeared a 4-D image of Johnson. “Hey, Doc, don't take this the wrong way, but I was itching to get outta the med tent’s confinement. We need to seriously consider adding some windows or something. Actually, I look forward to some R&R, so take your time, boss. I hope the tin hobbit can do you right.” He smiled and the image fell away, like dancing fireflies.
“Seems like Johnson and you are on the mellow track, huh?”
“Why fight it?” Lt. Pierce said, starting out.
“Why fight it indeed,” he mumbled under his breath.
***********************************
“Would you like to pursue this avenue once more, Doctor?” Alpha 80 said.
“Shit,” Dr. Spencer said weakly. "Are we looking at our final attack vector?"
“I believe so. We have tried every permutation, equation, and even atomic language. We have exhausted all other avenues. A superior crafter has altered the proteins, or an aberrant cell has evolved its DNA."
Dr. Spencer's gaze faltered. Three days, working day and night, only to arrive at Harmon's prognosis. The finality in the man’s words still haunted him. The biologist had it right. He had hoped to seek him out and have him help with his findings. He had consoled himself with Ben’s explanation. Something must have followed them over the wall, but what?” With what he had witnessed during his time on New Earth it could have been any nightmarish beast.
His mental and physical exhaustion made his legs buckle. The struggle with the fertility issue, Harmon and Kaya's death, and the deep regret he still felt at watching the serum's effect on his friends hijacked his personal needs. He saw his wife's image against the bright, white tent. The light brightened, then ebbed, closing in on itself until darkness swallowed him. Then a dark silence took him.
************************************
‘We were discussing our current dilemma when he collapsed.’ Dr. Spencer heard Alpha 80 tell someone. The doctor's brain throbbed painfully.
‘The electrolyte infusion should kick in soon.’ The doctor heard Specialist Johnson say. The doctor tried to open his eyes, but it hurt too much.
Johnson continued, “I Thought you Alphas knew just about everything?”
“We learn from humans with each engagement, and this takes time.”
Dr. Spencer’s eyes quivered and opened ever so slowly. He made out Alpha 80’s outline. The little man cocked its head.
“Why are you smiling?” Alpha 80 said.
“I think I need an Alpha who can catch me when I fall, little guy.” Dr. Spencer signed. His chest felt heavy. Maybe I need Alpha 1,” the doctor managed, then coughed.
“Glad you’re with us again, Doc.” Johnson smirked.
“What happened?” Dr. Spencer said, laboring to sit up.
“Yo, Doc, just cause you're working with little 80 here, doesn’t mean you’re a machine. We humans need rest and sustenance. It seems you've been neglecting your temple, man," Johnson said, easing the doctor forward to drop some pillows behind him.
“Thanks. Since I finally got a hard-working companion, I got carried away.” He tried to laugh.
“Ha, ha. Be nice, or I’ll leave you at Tom Thumb’s mercy.” Johnson chuckled.
“Alpha 80, thank you for all the help.”
“It has been my pleasure, Doctor. Is there anything else I can assist you with?”
“No, thanks. I don’t care what smart-ass over here says, your worth a million bucks,” Dr. Spencer said, leaning back on the pillows.
“Are you inferring I have no value since currency is obsolete?”
“Told you!” Johnson said, loud enough to startle the droid.
“No, Alpha 80. It’s an Old Earth expression meaning, no matter what, you’re great.” The doctor gave Johnson a menacing glare.
Johnson got the hint, “Okay, Doc, let me tell you about my R& R, four hours on, four hours off. I slept as if my momma had just put me to bed.”
Spencer laughed, but it was tainted with uncertainty and pain. What happens if this infertility issue is not reversible? We are looking at the end of our species. Perhaps Malica is right about why I prefer the tent dark. I'm depressed, and I think others are starting to notice, he thought turning his face away from the others.
Chapter 56
Withered
Terranova, USC
September 630, 4067
Dr. Spencer faced his colleagues, his eyes set in dark hollow sockets. "My findings are not conclusive, but as final, as I can make them. Our DNA strand is Infertil, and this was no mistake. To put it bluntly, we lack the knowledge to reverse such a condition.”
“Dr. Spencer, we were in cryo-units the entire time, so how can this be possible?" Martha Grimes said as she cleared a lock of ash hair from one eye.
The new city hall meeting center was bathed in bright lights, powered by the suns help. The Alphas had helped them design fast absorbing panels and more extended yield batteries, all made with materials borrowed from the Empire site.
“Alpha 80, Charlie 4, and I have come to a consensus. We believe we have either ingested or inhaled a pathogen, which caused infertility—a bacteria or virus that exceeds our scope of our understanding. Of course, we have not found anything to substantiate our hypothesis. It had to be something so small that it caused changes at the atomic level," Dr. Spencer said and swallowed hard. Telling this to others sickened him. He considered himself a fighter. His motto was simple—never gives up. This wasn't his first defeat, but it was his worst.
“We can’t very well stop eating and breathing. What else can we do?” a balding Council member said.
“We’ve already tested the air, and found it is as changed as the ecology. It will take months—possibly years—to test each airborne element. Dietary tests will take a long time, as well. We know the water is not to blame since infertility started before we discovered the underground source. On Old Earth, it had taken forty years to clean up radioactive waste—not only from North America but all around the world. What most people failed to realize was that these talks were a cover, a way to pull the wool over the public’s eyes. No method existed to eradicate such contamination levels. Covertly, they buried mass contaminants. So by 2065 life expectancy had taken a toll. To many leaders around the world—because of overpopulation—this wasn't such a bad thing. Of course, they would never have admitted such inhuman reasoning. Things were getting better, in some aspects, so people let the radioactive issue rest.” Dr. Spencer paced the floor for a moment.
“What are we talking about here?” a delegate at the room's far end called out?"
“While this planet slept, who knows what radioactivity did to the atom’s structure. We know there is no radioactivity now, so we believe the planet absorbed it, transformed it," Dr. Spencer trailed off, scanning the room, noticing the uncertain faces, "We are not surrendering. We will continue our search for a way to preserve the human race."
Ben sighed. "So what timetable are we looking at here, Dr. Spencer?"
“I give you no guarantees, ladies, and gentlemen. I have asked several experts in various fields to help me find a solution, but I will be as forthcoming as possible. Timing this endeavor's outcome is impossible. It may take a year or a lifetime." Dr. Spencer forgot to breathe for a moment. He drew in a ti breath as if dreading his next words. “I promise to find a solution, even if I spend the rest of my life doing so.”
“Thank you, Dr. Spencer,” Ben said, nodding.
The Council remained debating issues long after Ben and Dr. Spencer had slipped from the chamber.
"Spence, we need to talk. I'll meet you at the main gate. I will disable the surveillance cams along that parapet and have an Alpha set up a ma
gnetic field. ."
Dr. Spencer looked him over, his eyes becoming concerned. "More problems?"
“No, more like an opportunity.” Ben smiled mischievously.
***********************************
Dr. Spencer held his hand out, and Ben took it with a smile. "Your words were harsh, but the Council appreciated your resolve. We could consider putting some people back to sleep again, Spence.
“We may have to consider that. In any case, CYA is as important today as it was on Old Earth. I meant it, Ben. There is no telling when we’ll be able to crack this elusive code. We’re dealing with a mystery which has baffled the medical field for more than a century on Old Earth. People throughout history have had infertility and, despite the medical advances achieved during the twenty-first century, few options were offered. This isn’t your typical individual condition, but one affecting an entire population.” Dr. Spencer’s frown deepened.
“How about testing local mammals?”
“I think you know what happened when we tried to study a live creature, Ben.”
“Yeah, I remember the rotund pig creature and the epidemic it caused, but how about if we persuaded one to enter the city of its own volition? Then draw some blood—or better yet, tranquilize it for a short period—then we’d release it, unharmed?”
“You’re the one with the ‘No Interference clause,’ Dr. Spencer said, cocking a smile.
“And it’s still there, but this is it—live or die, we have to find a way. I know it sounds hypocritical, but the Alphas, the late Harmon, and even you said there is no way to reverse the infertility cycle, so it is vital to find other options. We will bring as few people on this as possible.”
Dr. Spencer traced his lips with his finger considering the idea. “Okay, it's worth trying, but at the sign of any trouble we abort.”
“Sounds like we’ll need Efrem and Lt. Pierce’s expertise once more.”