The Infected [Books 1-6]

by P. S. Power

  "Going to read all the books then?"

  "Um, I'm a speed reader. Everything seems to run in slow motion to me, so I like it, I can control the pace, as long as I'm careful not to rip the pages as I turn them. Movies, television, I can watch them, but it's boring. They unfold so slowly. Not that I'm complaining..."

  He went back to making the stack of things, excited enough that he was moving faster than most people could run part of the time, even though he only walked. It called attention to him, but away from Brian, so it was all good.

  Old habit took over then, with Brian heading to the science fiction section directly, Georgia walking behind him, not having anything better to do. She seemed happy enough to do it for the time being at least. Then she was on Team One. Out in public they smiled. It was a rule. She also had make-up on. They had to. Even the men, except Argos and Prime, who just didn't need it. Doug would love that part, no doubt.

  He got lost in looking at the new titles and didn't notice the woman that walked up alongside of him for the first few seconds, until she spoke.

  "Can I help you find something?" The voice was professional, but also familiar.

  Brie.

  "Oh, hey! How are you doing? I haven't seen you for a while." He smiled at her, eyes crinkling, which got Georgia to perk up, staring at the new female with interest that hadn't been there half a second before.

  The woman smiled warmly, but clearly didn't recognize him, which wasn't a big surprise. After all, he'd just been a customer that had talked to her a few times a month. Mainly about books too, which meant that he'd always just been part of her job. She was pretty enough, but not as cute as Georgia, being just a little heavy compared to most of the women he knew now. Not bad really, but not IPB ready either. She had shoulder length brown hair and dressed in tan slacks and a button up pink shirt with a little name tag.

  After a few seconds she started to shake her head, seeming confused.

  "I'm sorry..."

  He laughed knowing it sounded forced and shook his head.

  "No reason for you to remember me, I used to come in all the time, we'd discuss the merits of various classics. Stranger in a Strange Land, I-Robot, that kind of thing." He got ready to let her go and look at books again when she looked at him funny.

  "Brian?" It sounded pretty confused, but after a second she nodded. "I didn't recognize you. Wow, you lost some weight. How have you been?"

  He didn't really know how to respond, but after a few seconds he just decided on the truth. His friend Tobin always said that if good people weren't willing to admit they were Infected, they couldn't really blame everyone for thinking they were all bad. It wasn't that simple, but it was a point. True it probably meant she'd run away screaming in a few seconds, but at least it would be honest.

  "I work for the IPB now. Operative, so you know, Infected. I kind of had to lose weight, get in shape and all that." It wasn't like he held his breath on purpose, but it would probably hurt if she turned out to be a bigot, he realized. A lot of people were, at least a little bit, but for a long time he'd had a crush on her, so it would mean a lot more.

  "Ah." She didn't add anything, but looked around for a second and then turned back to him smiling.

  "That would explain why Argos is trashing my history section then. I kind of figured it was him, but without the costume it's hard to be sure. So... Is this... Lady Glory? I can tell it's not Quartz, but the glowing..."

  Georgia made a face.

  "See, this is what I get for being a "B" member of the team, isn't it? I'm Pixie. Georgia to my friends." She held out her hand though and didn't blast the book store worker with her power even.

  "Sorry, some of the guys here would know that, you should meet them before you leave. They'll probably follow you around like puppies. Then a few of them will probably ask for Lady Glory and Impulse's numbers. Which makes them pervs. Impulse is like what, ten?" She was just making conversation it was clear.

  Brian shook his head.

  "Nope, fifteen. Still not legal though, so we'll try not to set up any dates for her."

  Georgia's eyes lit up then and she nearly laughed.

  "Darn straight. The last guy he caught giving her too much attention Brian put in the hospital with a broken jaw. I mean that too. So I agree, no dates for Bridgie for a while. Our insurance couldn't handle it."

  Brie tilted her head a little and gave him a disbelieving look.

  "Brian wouldn't hurt anyone. He's a sweetie. Always nice to me at least." She did take a second to really look at him though, her eyes lingering on the three scars on the right side of his face, how lean he'd gotten and the new lines from stress around his eyes. The short hair and hard body under his clothing. It was a change that spoke of more than a good diet.

  Georgia didn't hesitate to keep talking though.

  "Yes, he is. He's one of the best people that I've ever met. In the last year he's saved hundreds of lives, sometimes under conditions that most people wouldn't have even survived. A lot of people don't get that part about him though, how nice he is. You should go out and chat about it later. If we get a chance I mean. We're all here on business, actually working. Some possibly corrupt police in the local department. We're trying to get to the bottom of it, but you two should get together and rehash old times. He has a girlfriend, but they have an open arrangement. She doesn't do other girls though, so her loss or you could all get together. I suppose I could join you two though, if you want..."

  There was a rustling behind them as Argos walked up, carrying about twenty books in his arms, trying not to drop them all. He looked at Pixie and shook his head, slowing the move down enough to look about right.

  "Yeah, Karen is great. I should go buy these." He handed about half of them off to Georgia and it clearly wasn't a mistake, since he almost grabbed her arm and pulled her along gently as he moved towards the front counter.

  Brie smiled at him, her eyes rolling a bit.

  "Yeah, we could have dinner or something? Discuss old times and books. Um, who are you, other than you, I mean? For work."

  He sighed, since it was another hurdle to get past.

  "I don't suppose that you'd believe I was secretly Prime in my spare time, would you?" It was a joke and got a chuckle so he continued. "He'd back me up on it. Nice guy once you get past the narcissism. Anyway, I'm Proxy." He didn't let himself hold his breath this time, which was a good thing. She just nodded.

  "Oh? Like I'm supposed to buy that? The Prime thing sounded more realistic. Going for the hero to all the women over thirty? I'm not that old yet. Still, it's a good line, do you think he'd back that up for you too?" She teased with a happy look on her face, reaching out to touch his arm gently.

  "You don't have to be anyone other than you to get my interest you know. You had me at Heinlein." Brie made strong eye contact for about ten seconds, pushing what was normal, but then looked away and back again after a second.

  "I always wondered why you didn't ask me out. Do you really have a girlfriend? Maybe that was why? I always thought you were just shy."

  Since that was about the truth he nodded, then realized she might not get what he meant.

  "Um, yes to both? Plus, honestly, I didn't think you'd say yes. Would you like to get together for dinner? I mean, just as friends. Karen wouldn't care if I was off having sex, but..." He stopped and tightened his lips.

  "Now that just sounds all kinds of presumptuous, doesn't it? But as friends?"

  "Fine. Let me get you my number. Um..." She had to scramble to get some paper and a pen, but wrote quickly enough, making sure the numbers were clear.

  "Don't forget."

  He promised not to and left, not even remembering to get a book, he was so flustered. Brian didn't know if he was going to ask her out, but kind of thought he should if he got a chance. It wasn't like he was going to get a lot of opportunities to do it if he didn't grab hold of the things right in front of him. It would be nice to just talk to someone and not have it be all abou
t work for once.

  Argos and Pixie were at the front of the store, signing autographs for a collection of about ten people. About that many more stood back looking scared though, a few on cell phones, either taking pictures or calling someone. That could end badly if they were attacked again, so he decided to get them to move out pretty quickly, taking the bags from Argos so he could sign faster. It was about then that they ran into the first problem.

  It seemed that Team One had rules for being in public and one of them was that they talked to anyone that recognized them and wanted to. They weren't allowed to leave unless it was an emergency. Argos informed him of that with a worried look, like it might make Brian mad.

  The second problem was the news team that showed up. On the good side that would probably keep most of the bigots from starting a fight with them in public.

  Georgia and Jason handled it nearly perfectly. They had actual training for it after all and practiced the skills regularly.

  "Argos, why are you in town?" The female reporter smiled at him and licked her lips as if he were made of cake or something.

  Jason just waved at the camera and smiled broadly.

  "Just some work and sightseeing. Proxy is from this area, and is on vacation right now, so we decided to tag along and get the extra free time." Leaning in he winked. "Don't tell the boss."

  For her part Georgia stood back until recognized, smiling the whole time, happily. Brian tried but doubted he made it. The news camera swung around toward her and lingered as the woman in her skirt and somewhat formal jacket started talking to the short haired woman directly.

  "Pixie. There was word that you had an incident about a month ago, that involved you using your power to rape nearly fifteen people. How do you respond to that?"

  It came out of the blue and while it was actually pretty close to the truth, it was a vastly rude thing to ask, and done in a way that didn't sound like the woman had Georgia's best interests at heart. It got Brian to go on alert, his own first mode coming into play. Without even realizing it was happening he stepped forward and spread his hands, sighing.

  "That was my fault, and not exactly what it sounds like. It was a training exercise and I was supposed to stop her a little sooner. All the people involved were adults and volunteers, so nothing that happened was that unwelcomed, but anything that did happen was due to my personal failure. I've been undergoing special mental training so that I can respond faster to similar things if need be in the future."

  It was a lie, but if the woman wanted to push it everyone else on the base would back them, he was certain. Someone had talked though. That didn't mean it was any of their people of course. Not when they had to face off with Braid and her crew. If nothing else that bunch knew things. Almost everything.

  The newswoman didn't seem to buy it at first.

  "Oh? Not a party that got out of control, sending Pixie into a feedback loop?"

  Brian nodded as if that was exactly right.

  "Precisely. I'm not sure where you got that information, but it wasn't like that at all. Just me taking too long to respond to the situation." Which he'd done by knocking Georgia out. It really had taken him too long though, several of the people had felt violated after they recovered a bit. It was the nature of her power and really had been a feedback loop like the woman in front of them had said.

  She bought it well enough to turn her hard hitting reporter act on him.

  "Proxy, is it true that you're here to exercise a Death Warrant on three police officers?" Her tone was a little wicked sounding, like she knew it was considered bad form to call the IPB out on that issue. It was literally true, since in many cases it could get her killed.

  Not in this time though, so he tried to look serious without seeming mean and took a breath to buy some time to think. He should say "no comment" but that would have every officer in three states gunning for them. It was best to go with something approaching the truth.

  "I have a Warrant, but it turns out that we may not have to serve it at all. We've opened an investigation instead and are trying to clear the men of all wrong doing. One of the officers is missing however, and I don't know if I'm allowed to mention his name. One man, a guard at the jail, not a police man, seems to be innocent however, as does the other officer in question. Death Warrants are a serious thing, and we don't serve them lightly."

  It sounded decent, he thought, being that he was pulling it all out of his behind. He waited for the next question, if there was one, but the woman turned back to Argos, asking if he had any dinner plans while they were in town. He handled it with a gentle deflection for the camera, then got the woman's number as soon as he wasn't being videoed any longer.

  Then they got out of the store and didn't stop for a movie at all.

  They headed back towards his house, which wasn't really his anymore, and no one said anything for a long time. At first he wondered if they were mad at him for messing with the news woman, since that was their job, not his. No one mentioned it though, until Georgia said something from her place in the little car's passenger seat.

  "You didn't have to do that you know. Take the blame like that for what I did. I'm not proud of it, but it was my mistake. I don't want to make anything harder for you than it has to be." She sounded... sad.

  Jason answered from the back, his voice a lot harder than it normally was.

  "It was a good plan. Proxy made himself look bad, possibly, for not doing something exactly right on a training exercise, but turned the focus away from everything else. It wasn't just about you Georgia, all the others, well some of them, feel pretty bad about it still." He did something, which Brian couldn't see, but figured was a hand gesture made too fast. It caused a breeze.

  "No one is blaming you Georgia, but some of them feel like they were used. A few were. Well, you know, you were there. This way no one is paying attention to them in the press. We can just blame Proxy for not being perfect and no one will be the wiser." He sounded decently grim about the idea, which was a little odd. Jason was normally a pretty easy going and happy guy.

  When they stopped at a red light, the one near the good taco place that stayed open all night, Pixie started in again.

  "I shouldn't make Brian be the fall guy though. It wasn't his fault. He saved us. OK, so it was my first mode and power causing it, but I'm responsible for that, no one else. When he had a bad first mode reaction with Karen he stood in front of the world and took his lumps. I shouldn't be less brave than that." She didn't sound angry at all, or look it when Brian made a quick glance trying not to crash.

  She just got quiet, almost low enough to keep her from being heard at all.

  Argos did something else that stirred the air up and then grunted.

  "Maybe. The fact is though that Brian can weather this better than you could fifteen rape charges, and we don't have to defend this lie in front of Congress. It's pretty close to brilliant. Besides, if anyone does catch on in a few years it won't matter, because..." The words came fast, a manic thing that had to be hard to censor. No one needed it explained though, even after he stopped talking.

  It was because Brian wouldn't be there to answer questions then. Probably sooner than that.

  It was just as they left the light that Dharma showed up, yelling at him.

  "Fuck! Brian, get the car pulled over, into the parking lot, then get out and run. Get ready to jump when I say... up, not forward, I think and... Um... Catch?" The wheels squealed as he made the turn, getting honked at by the car behind him that had to slam on their brakes. His little Honda scraped the concrete as he made the move, throwing up some sparks no doubt. He winced but jumped out as soon as he could, not bothering to explain.

  The other two either got it or figured that he was suddenly jonesing for a bean and cheese burrito. Either way they were silent about it as he ran. Dharma paced him easily, not being real at all.

  "Ready to jump and catch in... three... two... Now!"

  Then she was gone and the world was a di
fferent place, his normal tingling replaced with an electric feeling that seared all the way to the bone. He didn't know why it happened, but threw his arms out anyway, not seeing anything really, just knowing he was in the air about twenty feet up. He could stick the landing, depending what he had to catch.

  Something small and soft touched his hands, something wrapped in pink cloth. A fuzzy blanket. One with a baby in the middle. There was a building next to him and the air was humid. Reminding him of Florida actually. He tucked the child carefully and rolled with it in his arms, making sure to protect it the whole time. It wasn't perfect, but the ground wasn't that hard, being a manicured lawn. After rolling three times he got to his feet, the little thing in his arms screaming, but, he hoped, not injured. Not from the fall at least.

  He looked up at the window and could hear people fighting. There were screams from there too and sounds of crying. If he was supposed to do something about that Brian had to set the kid down. Luckily he saw a way to do that, an elderly woman near the outdoor stairs having peek through her door to see what was going on.

  "You... ma'am!" He ran to her, her dark skin looking shriveled and time worn. She also had a pained expression on her face.

  She started to shut the door, then opened it wide, as if she was prepared to do whatever she might have to in order to protect the baby. One old, slightly arthritic hand clenched in a partial fist. It was a good sign. If she was willing to kick his ass to get the kid, she might be willing to help in other ways.

  "I need you to guard this baby while I go see what's happening upstairs. Can you do that?"

  No answer came in words, but she opened her arms and gathered the baby in as if it were a common thing for her. Then he ran. Everything hurt from the landing he'd taken, things in his back ached enough to make him want to slow down, shifting a little as he climbed the cement stairs to the third floor. He wasn't sure which door he needed to go to, but the screaming followed by gunfire gave him a decent clue. Three shots... and then the screaming stopped.