by Robert Lyons
“Have I ever … told you how proud I am of you, Phillip?” His father, who physically looked more fitting to be his grandfather, smiled. The wrinkles around his face created deep grooves in his weathered skin.
“Every day.” Phillip smiled too, although the tears were threatening to spill out at any moment.
“Phillip. I’m afraid my time is short.” His father’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Whatever you do … live life for you. I’m telling you this, because I know you are mature enough to understand the situation. Don’t learn the terrible truths behind my work.”
For the past year, Phillip’s father was battling a disease that accelerated the aging process of his body. When he first contracted it, he appeared to be in his mid-40s and healthy. Within a single year, his body began to undergo rapid changes. Day by day, his skin started to wither and his senses dulled, until Phillip’s father had aged into his grandfather. A mere shrug was all the so-called experts could offer as an explanation to Phillip and his mother.
Phillip’s father trusted him enough to tell his son to never follow his footsteps, so all there was left to do was wait for the inevitable.
Phillip’s original intent was to obey his father’s wishes. However, once his dad’s deteriorating body finally gave up the fight, something changed in the young boy. He was angry. Specifically, he was angry that no one had the answers he wanted.
He was going to directly contravene his father’s dying wish.
While digging through his father’s belongings, Phillip happened upon some clues alluding to the work that was always kept in secret. Once he conducted some research, Phillip was able to connect the dots of the scattered notes, revealing what his father was involved in. The paramount discovery in the paper pile was some sealed document holders that were labeled as “Doctor Gentaro Mori.”
Once he understood what field of study his father was involved in, Phillip knew without a doubt what he had to accomplish with his life.
He boarded a train headed in the direction of his new school, new environment, and new home. There were some nearby relatives from his mother’s side who coordinated to bring Phillip under their wing while he adjusted to his fresh surroundings. It was in those years spent away from his real home where Phillip pursued his newfound calling. To rid the world of all diseases was the scorching desire of his heart.
In his early days of college, his teachers and fellow students often ridiculed him for his unfounded ideas to combat pathogens. Most of Phillip’s concepts were so unorthodox when compared to modern medicine, he was almost considered a heretic for daring to be different. Nevertheless, he pursued the often ridiculed “crazy” ideas, until NanoXLabs picked him up. It was the perfect testing ground to make his dream come true.
3.
“Who is the crazy one, now?” Phillip chuckled to himself, exiting memory lane and coming back to the present. He had come so far since those judgmental college days. Phillip was no longer that freshman with no clue. He had discovered a way to render the flu and other common sicknesses ineffective against the body using the program’s genetic sequencing ability and then crafting the antivirus with the Cipher Break. That alone was a breakthrough worthy of a Nobel Prize, but his ambition wouldn’t allow him to stop there. The Cipher Break had the potential to keep evolving, eventually becoming the ultimate cure-all.
All too soon, the Alter-gens reared their ugly heads. It was all the more reason for Phillip to pour his entire being into his work.
“…But until I discover the ‘cure-all,’ I’m nothing but an idiot with a big mouth.” The young scientist took a couple of steps away from where he was standing originally. “Good thing I’m a salary employee now—I’m going to be putting in some serious overtime.”
On the ground just a couple yards away was a massive splatter of frozen blood, caked onto the cobblestone. The possibility of Alter-gens being some sort of a biological weapon was not ruled out yet. Clay Maxwell himself suggested that there was that possibility. “But who could make such a weapon?”
Is it possible? Phillip rolled the idea around in his mind. Are Alter-gens synthesized after all? Who is to say they are naturally occurring?
Phillip’s vision focused, allowing him to spot a peculiar trace of marks running through the pool of spilt blood. Although just thinking it made the young scientist question his own sanity, Phillip could’ve sworn that the marks imprinted in the sticky surface was similar to that of paw prints.
Were those there yesterday?
“Eeek!”
A young woman yelped as she tripped, dropping a box full of samples onto the ground. The small glass vials rolled in random directions. The light-blue-suited figure bowed her head with embarrassment as she reached out to collect the spilled contents.
“Hey! You okay?”
The head looked up at Phillip, a doll face with glasses staring at him with an astonished expression before looking away bashfully.
“You biffed it pretty hard.” Phillip glanced at the spot where her footing failed her. One of the cobblestones was slightly raised up from other surroundings ones, creating a snare for her boot.
“Y-Yeah, I’m fine,” the girl responded quietly. “I was testing to see if gravity was still working.”
“Really?” Phillip tried to hold back a chuckle. “If that was your intention, I’d say you picked a pretty rough spot to test its relentless nature.”
“Yeah, I guess,” she answered sheepishly, recovering all of her lost vials.
Phillip walked over to her, grabbing the box from the young woman, despite her brief protest of not wanting someone else to carry her items. He used his free hand to help her to her feet. As she stood upright, Phillip shot a quick look at her knees to ensure that the seal that isolated her body from the outside world was still intact. Thankfully, the NanoXLabs suits were more durable than Phillip initially thought.
“Thanks, but you really didn’t have to.” The young woman nodded, avoiding eye contact. “…But it was nice of you.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m considered to be unreasonable asshole by my peers, but there are some things that even I can’t turn a cold shoulder toward.” Phillip shrugged.
“Well, if you feel so inclined, I guess it would be rude to turn down your help.” The young woman nodded with a reserved smile. “My name is Kelly Smith, and I already know your name, Mister Director of Research and Development for Special Projects.” Kelly gave a small smile, lifting her head slightly. She was still too timid to meet Phillip’s gaze.
“Kelly Smith?” Phillip repeated, racking his brain, wondering if he heard that name before. “Do you work under my division?”
“Nope. The only tie I have to NanoXLabs is this suit they provided me. I’m a specialist in genetic engineering. Clay Maxwell personally tasked me here. You could call me a freelancer.”
“Ah, I see, Miss Freelancer.” Phillip nodded. “Word has really spread around about my promotion?”
“It’s all the buzz back at camp,” Kelly said nonchalantly. “I don’t know if I should mention this, but when it comes to the Cipher Breaker, pretty much anyone who isn’t part of NanoXLabs is—well, there is no nice way to put this.”
“I expect as much.”
“Well, they think it’s all science fiction.”
“Let them think that. The Cipher Break was going to be difficult to understand. I don’t blame their distrust, it’s just ignorance. People are afraid of what they don’t understand,” Phillip said proudly, a deep smirk imprinted on his face. “Most of those guys aren’t even qualified to have an opinion, but I’m more interested in a genetic engineer’s opinion. Do you think it’s a sham?”
When Phillip asked, Kelly recoiled back to her shy self, just as she was starting to warm up to the conversation.
“Um … it’s new and—it does come off a bit bizarre. It’s easier to just say that it’s ‘too good to be true.’ Conversely, I do believe that you’ve happened on something with potential.” Kelly g
ave another small smile and shot a side-glance at Phillip. “That being said, since we’ve continued to work on this project without any sense of direction, I’m assuming that your method wasn’t effective against this disease?” Kelly asked, her voice a tad worried.
She’s sharp. Phillip could feel her words pierce his body like a spear plunging through his chest.
“Your assumption is spot on,” he agreed. “I can’t delve into the particulars because it will take forever to explain, but to briefly clue you in, I believe that what we’re dealing with here isn’t a virus.”
Kelly looked around with an air of awkwardness. “A body basically hardening into stone is not a symptom you would see from the flu.”
Her response was wordy, but it was certainly more graceful than if she flat out said, “No shit, Sherlock.”
Ack! Phillip’s pride took another volley from the woman’s sarcastic tone. He quickly switched subjects as a silent retreat. “So, you said that Maxwell personally tasked you here?”
“Mister Maxwell is very good friends with my father,” Kelly said, keeping her eyes at their usual low angle. “They’ve worked together on many projects in the past. At my father’s recommendation, Clay organized my participation and I was sent out here to help.”
“Did you have any family ties to NanoXLabs or are you just a hired on genetic engineer?” Kelly asked, shuffling her foot. Some of her mannerisms suggested that she was great at conversing, but only when someone else started the conversation.
“Actually, I almost didn’t get hired in the first place. I bombed my first interview. Luckily, they took me in after a second chance.” Phillip chuckled, grinning broadly. The second interview was the one that Clay Maxwell sat in on so that he could listen to the young man ramble about his eccentric ideas on how to rid the world of diseases. That was why the CEO himself sat in on the second go-around. Word had gotten around that some young man was spilling his guts over some very unorthodox concepts of virology. Clay wanted to see what this pathfinder had to say for himself.
“Dear, oh dear.” Kelly let out another giggle, perhaps involuntarily. “Well I bet they’re happy that they picked you up, considering your contributions so far.”
For the first time, Kelly looked Phillip in the eye.
His own eyes widened a little as he finally saw those soft, mahogany-brown eyes.
I could get lost in those eyes for a while…
Phillip’s face began to burn from the oncoming blush.
“You know, I didn’t expect someone so high on the totem pole of NanoXLabs to be so—I don’t know—normal?” Kelly grinned.
“Don’t be fooled, I’m actually a stand-in for the real guy, my name isn’t even Phillip.” The young man winked.
Kelly had to stop short because the transparent piece of her helmet was starting to fog up from her laughing.
“Well, Mister Puppet, I do believe that we are a little late for lunch. Aren’t you starving?”
“Not always. Usually I have a hard time separating myself away from work, but this time I think I can make an exception…” Phillip fell in step with her.
“Hey! You want to pick up the pace, Delgado?” Phillip’s shoulder-clip radio started to blare the transport driver’s grouchy voice. “Your group is going on break!”
“We’re on the way!” Phillip reached up to the device and activating the microphone, informing the man responsible for their safe return to the field research center. “Whereabouts at base do you stay?” Phillip turned to look at Kelly as his boots crunched on the dirty street.
“Since I’m not actually affiliated with any group, I don’t have to share a complex like the others do.” Kelly winked, her giggle slipping out from her reserved grasp again.
“So what, do you sleep out in a tent?” Phillip raised an eyebrow.
“No, silly! Clay gave me my own room.” At this Kelly let out a small sigh of relief, as if the mere thought of having a roommate was unacceptable.
“Wow, Clay gave you your own place? Now that’s impressive! My position considered, and I still have to share a room with others. I suddenly don’t feel worthy to talk to you.” Phillip chuckled, looking at the young woman who was blushing and laughing.
The installation that the operations were run from was reallocated from the Russian government. An abandoned military base was refurbished and modified to accommodate the scientists for their dorms, research, and a place to eat their food. Some of the rooms were retrofitted with seals to make the spaces airtight. Those upgrades were implemented so that experiments involving airborne contagions could be handled safely without the risk of breaking containment.
“Oh, come on!” Kelly threw her hands up.
“I’m just saying! Maybe I’m going about my career wrong.”
“I don’t think Clay plays favorites, but if there is one thing about him, it’s that he’s the avant-garde type, considering that he’s the head of a big company.” Kelly began to ponder what she said. “Mister Delgado, may I be frank with you?”
“I’d prefer that you didn’t lie to me. Also, just ‘Phillip’ is fine.”
“Right. I think that Clay being here at Site Zero is a little strange. I mean, the man is supposed to be leading a global company, making sure not to miss a meeting or an executive lunch date. Yet, he’s here. I don’t know, maybe he really is just too bizarre for me to understand and I’m just overthinking it.” Kelly waved it off as if her suspicion was nothing more than her lack of knowledge and overthinking the matter.
It was already too late. By the time Kelly tried to blame her suspicions on her over-analytical thinking, a seed of doubt was planted and a small vine of distrust began to creep into Phillip’s mind.
Why didn’t I catch on sooner? Unless Clay has something to offer to our push to find a cure, what exactly is he doing here? Does he have to supervise everything? Can’t he trust someone else to do that for him?
Phillip wanted to kick himself for his lack of analysis, but he also understood that his mind was far too occupied with the task on hand to notice the seemingly trivial particulars.
Just down the street, the transport vehicle engines purred, signaling that they were ready to leave. Before the duo could arrive, an anomaly occurred. An unannounced, dreadful feeling struck Phillip.
It was akin to a cold knife stabbing into his side. His eyes widened as his palms began to sweat. Something was following them and Phillip was sensing it. A mental image of the tracks bearing the resemblance of paw prints next to the corpse flashed in the back of his mind.
Shit! Don’t let it be what I think it is … but how could it be?! Isn’t everything out here supposed to be dead?!
A snarl erupted from behind the two humans. That answered the question.
Instinctively, Phillip snatched his free hand up and grabbed a hold of Kelly’s arm, his grip biting down like a vise.
“Keep moving!” Phillip whispered loudly, the transparent piece of his bio-suit positioned over his face was starting to fog up, making it difficult for him to see the street ahead of him.
Kelly threw a glance over her shoulder.
The suit crinkled, preventing her from spotting what was behind them. She was only able to catch a side-glance in her peripheral of what was bringing up the rear.
It appeared to be a large dog. Upon closer inspection, there was something horrifically wrong with it. It stalked behind the two with about twenty yards of separation. Another snarl and a cough later, the canine’s bony legs began to carry it at a faster pace, propelling its corrupted body forward.
“Oh … hell no!” Kelly shuddered. “H-how is this even possible? Something out here is alive?!”
“We’re close to the transport,” Phillip urged. “There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll be safe. Just keep moving.”
Kelly nodded without making a sound. Her body shook violently from the expectancy of being mauled to death, but her legs kept moving her forward.
The only horror element from Kelly’
s childhood that kept her up at night was the hellhound-like creatures in movies. Surely, cruel fate decided that the seemingly undead creature creeping up on her heels was a monstrous canine. Her worst nightmare was brought to life.
We’ll be okay! I have Phillip with me! I’m not alone! Kelly winced, grabbing a hold of Phillip’s free arm and squeezing it in a tight embrace.
“Steady, Kelly. We’re almost there!”
“Phillip! Where the hell are you? What is taking so long?” the driver’s voice screamed through the radio. The radio unit’s speaker was loud enough to project the shout down the quiet street.
Phillip’s heart skipped a beat.
He didn’t have to turn his head to confirm his worst fear. He could hear the ragged breathing of the dog rapidly growing louder. The chase was initiated.
4.
“Dammit!” Phillip whipped his arm out of Kelly’s grasp, turning to look at the oncoming dog. Kelly’s arms rose to her mouth as she let out a shrill scream.
The transport was still about a hundred yards away. Closing in with terrifying speed, the grungy dog was going overtake Phillip and Kelly way before they could safely make reach the vehicles. Shortening the gap in a couple of seconds, the partially rotten body of the aggressive canine was flying at the pair of humans.
Phillip yelled, hoisting the box of samples over his head, as he locked eyes with the approaching monster. The dog leapt from ten feet away, aiming for the human’s chest to bring Phillip to the ground.
At the last second, Phillip slammed the box down on the dog’s head with all of the might in his tired arms.
The impact on the canine’s skull was enough to knock the monstrous mutant jaw loose, ejecting saliva out of its mouth. The spit sprayed the window of Phillip’s headgear as the dog crashed against the ground, narrowly missing the young scientist’s body.
“Come on!” Phillip yelled, grabbing a hold of Kelly’s small hand and pulling her away from the chaotic scene. There was nowhere near enough time for Phillip to get Kelly to the vehicles. The small counterattack bought them a little less than three seconds to get themselves to safety before the dog recovered and resumed the unrelenting pursuit. Reaching the transport in time was no longer a viable option.