Lethal Injection

by K M Lovold

  A sudden coldness hit Ian in his core. He straightened, squeezing the vials in his gloved hand. They weren’t completely hidden though—he prayed to God Klaus wouldn’t see them. “Just doing the last of the inspection.”

  “No.” Klaus moved toward him, not wearing any kind of protective rubber suit. “What’s wrong with your boot?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with it.” Ian had to speak louder through his face mask. “How come you can be out here without wearing all that I have to wear?”

  “Because I’m head keeper.” Klaus raised his eyebrows.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Ian’s heart raced, but he had to keep the conversation going in a different direction. He gripped the vials tighter, turning his hand slightly to hide the exposed vials against the leg of his suit. “You’re still a human being like the rest of us.”

  “When you’re a keeper, especially head keeper, you get injected with more Tetracaphoxin. That’s the chemical in our bodies,” he added as if Ian wouldn’t know what he was talking about. If only he knew the half of it. “All keepers get injected with more, but I have the most.” Klaus motioned his arm toward the train. “My skin is so thick and used to being around all this poison that it doesn’t affect me at all.”

  Ian squinted his eyes, wondering if Klaus was telling the truth. Ian had never heard that the keepers were given more Tetracaphoxin than the rest. At least not that he could remember. But why would Klaus lie to him about something like that?

  “Huh.” Ian shrugged. “Interesting. Well, I better get back to it. I gotta get this train going.” He turned and continued striding around the train, acting as if he were still inspecting it.

  “I wanted to watch and see what you do out here compared to the other prisoners who’ve worked on the train.” Klaus followed him.

  Ian gritted his teeth. He had to get these secured to the train before it departed. Where had Klaus come from anyway? He seemed to appear out of nowhere, but then it dawned on him.

  The communications room. That’s where he’d snuck off to when he’d left Ian.

  Ian continued his fake inspection. “Oh, wait. This doesn’t seem right.” He bent down and looked at a part of the train that was in perfect working order. “Let me check this on the inside.” He darted past Klaus and jumped up into the train and flicked a switch here and a switch there. “I need to go back to the computer. I’ll be right back.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?” Klaus continued following Ian, who got the strange sensation he had authority over Klaus all of a sudden. Klaus may be the head keeper, but Ian was above him in every way. Ian knew everything about this place and about this train, more so than Klaus. Such as the flag.

  “Just let me fix it, and I’ll explain later.” He brushed Klaus aside and headed towards the steps, all the while clutching the two large vials in his gloved hand.

  He entered the computer room and stole one look out the window. Klaus remained by the train, looking over the spot where Ian had pretended to inspect. Ian shoved the vials back into his boot, straightened, and sucked a deep breath. He dithered there at the door while counting to sixty. Once he’d regained a reasonable pulse rate, he clomped back down the steps. “That should take care of it.”

  Ian jumped back in the train and switched things back to where they’d been originally. “Why don’t you head back to the computer room, and I’ll explain to you what I did.”

  Remarkably, Klaus complied.

  Ian studied him as he strode away seeming to take his time and not looking back. Why was Klaus being like this, and why was he so oblivious to how the train worked? Since he was head keeper, he should know everything about this train, but he acted as if he knew nothing.

  While Klaus climbed the steps, gripping the railing as he went, Ian swiped the vials and secured them to the specific spot on the underside of the train. Their attachment triggered a process. When the train reached the heart of the disposal sight and the cars tipped over to dispose of the hazardous material, magnetism in the vials would be activated. The vials would then siphon as much of the toxic microscopic particles as they could carry. The process ended with the lids suctioning shut tight until Ian collected them upon the train’s return.

  “Thank God,” he uttered.

  He did one last quick once over of the outside of the train before he clomped back up to the computer room and mashed a few last buttons. Within minutes, the train roared out of the cave.

  The vials with it.

  “What did you do down there?” Klaus’s arm folded across his chest, his eyes narrowing at him.

  “I fixed the problem, that’s what.” Ian returned his focus to the computer, making sure the train was moving up to the right speed. Everything looked good. Then he shut the computer down.

  Klaus stared out the window at the tail end of the train smoothly exiting the cave. “What do you mean by that? What did you do?” His voice grew firmer.

  “I heard a strange whirring on the train. I saw a vent that didn’t seem to be completely open.” The explanation came to Ian on the spot. “The vents are particularly important when traveling to the disposal site with all of that radioactive cargo. The train will automatically shut down if it heats up too much in any area, especially near the cargo cars.”

  Klaus’s eyes grew wide, stiffening his posture. “You really know about that train, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do.” Ian leaned toward Klaus. “And I fixed it with a couple switches inside the train and a little bit of tinkering on the computer. The vent opened up completely, and there should be no problems.”

  Klaus gave a high-pitched whistle and a crisp nod. “Well done, Knockshine. Well done.”

  ****

  The next morning, Malaki sat at Lawrence’s kitchen table, steam emitting from a mug of coffee in hand. He’d slept well enough. At least he felt rested. “I’m sure you’ll be hearing from Price soon. I’d kinda like to stay here until you do.”

  “No problem.” Lawrence flipped a few eggs on the stove. His house was small but quite comfortable and immaculate, with high-tech appliances, all stainless steel. Everything in this house ran on memroth. There were pods in every room. That was the thing with these memroth pods. In a vehicle, they needed only so much energy to provide power, but the beauty of the pods was they could sense when more was needed.

  In homes, the pods worked like individual circuit breakers in an electrical system, each one powered by its own pod source. So rather than flick on a light switch for each room, one would turn on the pod for each room. The pods were impenetrable, nothing could break them. Still, with the pressure inside them building over time, radioactive gas would seep out, and eventually, side effects could be quite noticeable: hair loss, rare blisters for some, problems with eyesight. Some would blame their age or random illness. For others, the elderly or those with a weak immune system, the symptoms would present faster and be more detrimental. But no matter what, anyone who used these pods in their homes and vehicles over time—sometimes many years—would be affected. Many to the point of death.

  Bacon sizzled and snapped in the fry pan, the smell permeating the house, and Malaki’s stomach grumbled. “What time do you have to get over to the building? Your office?”

  Lawrence glimpsed his watch. “We don’t have any crafts coming in until later this afternoon, so I’ll want to get over there by noon for sure. I’ll have to get things ready.” He slurped his coffee and poked at the bacon. “Say, since you crashed so fast last night, you never got to tell me the big deal about Waitforit going up.” He shrugged. “I mean, you told me how important it was for Ian, but otherwise, what’s the big deal? And are you going to be seeing Ian soon to tell him she went up?”

  “I already told him. I talked to him on the phone.” It wasn’t like Malaki was lying. He was sure the moment Ian sent his Morse code message he knew Waitforit would be heading his way. Ian knew. He must.

  “Well, how did he take it? Did it perk him up a bit? How’s he doin
g now?” Lawrence scooped a couple eggs and some bacon onto a plate and handed it to Malaki.

  “Thanks, looks delicious.” Malaki rubbed his hands together. “He was in good spirits about it, but he’s still the same. Or should I say… not the same. He’s not the same Ian.” He crunched on the bacon. Another non-lie. Ian would be different when he returned. God only knew what he’d been through since he’d entered Battlecreek Prison a little over three years ago.

  Lawrence situated himself at the table with his plate of food. “But I thought sending Waitforit was going to help his mental stability. That’s why you were so adamant about sending her up.”

  “Believe me, I’m sure as Ian ponders it some, it’ll make a big difference in his state of mind. It’s just going to take time. But it’ll—”

  Lawrence’s phone rang. “It’s him. Price.” He jumped up and put the phone to his ear. “Yeah, Price.” He paused. “No. No I haven’t. Why?” Lawrence looked at Malaki and nodded. “All right… all right. Very well. Yes, no, I can’t until tomorrow. We have a craft going up this afternoon and have to be here. All right, tomorrow then. That’s better. Fine. Goodbye.” He set his phone on the table. “He asked if I’d talked to you or seen you. First thing out of his mouth. Then he called a meeting of The Circle. He wanted to meet this afternoon, but Ben and I can’t, so tomorrow instead.”

  “What about me?” Malaki pointed at himself. “I’m a part of The Circle. It’s not like he can pretend I’m not. Jonathan isn’t going to be able to be the only chemist working on all that we have to do every day. At least, while Price had me locked up, I was still doing my lab work. He’s gonna feel my absence. And fast.” Malaki quickly scooped most of the eggs into his mouth, wiping his mouth with his napkin. “Well, I told you he’d be contacting you. He’s probably asking everyone if they’ve seen me. Which reminds me, I better get outta here before Benjamin discovers I’m here and that you lied.” He gulped more of his coffee.

  “Your truck is safely hidden. We made sure of that. He won’t see it. He’s probably already at the office, so now would be a good time for you to hightail it outta here.” Lawrence popped a piece of bacon in his mouth. “But keep in touch all right? Where are you going anyway?”

  “I have a place. The fewer details you know the better for you. Let me know how that meeting of The Circle goes. Everyone will be wondering where I am. It’ll be my second missed meeting in a row, and I never miss! I don’t know how anything’s going to get done now. With both Ian and me gone.”

  Lawrence shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense. You are needed now more than ever, especially with Ian getting the help he needs. I’m definitely going to say something at this meeting. I need to get to the bottom of this, and Price needs to be held accountable for what he’s doing. He needs to give up on Ian being in a mental hospital and just let it be. Why he’s taking all this out on you makes no sense to me but it’s obvious it stems from his own paranoia. If you ask me, Price needs help.”

  “I agree.” Malaki swallowed the last of his coffee then stood. “Thanks for your hospitality and for your discretion. I better get going.”

  “You’re welcome, and I’ll be in touch, and you do the same.” They shook hands, and Malaki left by the back door and jumped in his discretely parked truck.

  It was 10:30 a.m., and it would take about an hour and a half to get to his next destination, but once he got there, he’d stay put for the time being. Now that Price was after him, he couldn’t risk getting locked up again. Or killed. And where he was going, he could get any message from Ian if he sent any, especially when Ian got to Waitforit.

  This was it. With Waitforit on her way up, Ian could be piloting her back at any point. Could be weeks, could be months, but it would happen. And then Price’s worst fears would come true.

  ****

  “Good news.” David hovered over Nikolina while she mined. “Looks like things are moving forward with you being a keeper.”

  Her ax stopped midair, then dropped to her side. She turned around. “What?” She mentally weighed what that could mean for her, for Ian. And was David being honest?

  “Like I said.” David stood tall above her, hands clasped behind his back. “Klaus says he’s for it. Says he’d love to have a female keeper. For the first time. Ever.”

  She bit down on the inside of her lip. “So, what do I do? What’s next?”

  “You wait for Klaus. He’s going to be talking to you.” David put his hand on her shoulder, his thumb stroking along her collar bone.

  She stared down at it. He’d never touched her like that before. The feel of his hand dropped thoughts of Evan into her mind, and her breath caught.

  “He’ll probably ask you some questions, and you need to answer them honestly. Before you know it, you’ll be a keeper like me.”

  Nikolina swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, looking down at her dusty boot on the hard-packed ground. “I’ll be honest when he speaks to me.”

  “Good.” David took a step back. “Now, get back to your work. You still have a lot to mine before you meet your quota and are done for the day. Plus, we can’t be talking too much about this out here.”

  “All right.” She understood, so she turned and started pounding the rocky mountain.

  “Sit with me for mealtime tonight?”

  She stopped and twisted around again. “What about Ian? I thought you wanted me to talk to him as often as possible and find out as much as I can?”

  David shrugged half-heartedly. “Have a meal with me first, and then go talk to 4158. I do think he might be up to no good. He’s gotten into trouble recently. So, yes. Have your meal with me, and then see what you can find out about him.”

  “All right.” Nikolina hit the ground with her pick ax, forcing this newfound emotion back down. Twice, in such a short period of time, a warmth of feeling welled up inside her. Something she’d not allowed herself to return to or think about since arriving on Reathran. But becoming friends with Ian and discovering who he was brought memories of Evan to the surface of her heart, a reaction she hadn’t experienced in years. She fixed her eyes on a rock of memroth and struck her ax near it, all the while shoving this sentiment down, down, down. I can’t look at it right now. I can’t go there. I just can’t.

  Keeper. She’d been given the OK to move forward with that. She had to tell Ian this news. She’d answer all of Klaus’s questions with the exact answers he would want to hear. They were close. Ian was so close. At least that’s what he’d told her.

  She struck the dirt as hard as she could, spotting more of the dull memroth underneath and carving it out of the mountain. And then she pummeled it again and again, wanting to make her quota fast. She had to get to her cell to sort through her emotions before speaking to Ian. She would be a keeper, and that could change everything for her. And for Ian.

  CHAPTER seventeen

  “David says I’m going to be a keeper. Klaus’s agreed to it. He’s going to be talking to me.” Nikolina eyed Ian while she sipped on her glass of yellow water.

  “Are you serious?” Ian jerked his head back. “You’re going to be a keeper?”

  Nikolina gripped her glass. “Yes. But not until Klaus talks to me. David says he’s going to come see me, ask me questions.” She took a shaky breath. “But I’ve been thinking about this ever since I heard the news, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to answer his questions honestly. I’m nervous about it. I want to be honest, but everything in my heart is screaming to do whatever I can to help you first and foremost, and I’m pretty sure that means becoming a keeper so I can break the rules for your benefit.”

  Ian reached out and grabbed her hand.

  “How do I do this? I want to be a keeper to help you, and that’s the only reason.” She pulled her hand away from his and squeezed it with her other. Although she welcomed Ian’s touch more than David’s, being touched on her shoulder or even the simple touch of her hand caused turmoil in her heart and mind. She hadn’t felt these t
hings in so many years and couldn’t face the emotions that swelled up inside her.

  “Answer the questions the best way you see fit. If you want to help me, you’ll know how to answer the questions. They’ll come to you naturally, in your gut.” Ian patted his stomach with his fist. “You’ll know what to say. I promise you will. And so you know, I accomplished another one of my tasks at the train, so I’m getting closer to achieving my ultimate goal. I need all the help I can get, so if you want to help me, I’ll take it.”

  A sense of calm eased over Nikolina. “Good. Good. I’m glad to hear it. That makes me feel better about talking to him. I’m going to do anything I can to help you with whatever I can.” She straightened her posture. “But what if he takes control over me? If that happens, I’ll be answering him under his control, under his power. And what if I say the wrong thing? I mean, I want to tell Klaus whatever he needs to hear to make him comfortable in promoting me to keeper.” Her hands shook, and she put them under her legs. “But what if I mess up? I honestly don’t care what happens to me, but is there something I can do to help me with the power he can have over me?”

  Ian shook his head. “Not that I know of. But I think if you simply remain yourself—your calm self—and answer his questions quickly and normally, I don’t think he’ll take control over you. I just don’t think he will. He’s gonna want natural responses, not controlled ones.” He leaned back. “But if he does take control, don’t worry about it. This is all in God’s hands as far as I’m concerned.” He combed his fingers through his hair.

  Nikolina stared at Ian, unable to answer. She’d never much thought of God since she’d gotten to this planet. And if she knew anything about him before she was transported here, she didn’t remember.

  Ian continued. “If God’s real, I’m pretty sure he’s against what’s going on at this retched place, so I’m going to trust things’ll work out the way they ought to. If there is a God, I’ve got to believe he’s more powerful than Klaus or that blasted drug that’s running through our veins day in and day out.”